This transformative renovation of the former Student Center consolidates student support programs that were previously dispersed across multiple facilities, keeping students on campus and providing the academic and social support networks that increase success and retention.
Typically, the students who are most in need of support services don’t seek them out. Creating a visible and inviting pathway through the building—which is located between the campus gateway and the main quad—facilitates serendipitous student encounters with services from advising to the Writing Center. We organized space to blur the lines between administrative, academic and support services using vibrant lounge space as the binding medium. Integral to the design was a balance of openness and accessibility with privacy and security. Large translucent partitions promote workstation privacy by day and secure the stations during the extended evening hours.
In its first year, the Center has become one of the University’s most popular study and social spaces. The campus tour was extended to showcase it as a recruiting tool. The significant increase in evening activity has led other campus buildings to extend their hours. Perhaps the strongest evidence of the Center’s success: the University describes it as a physical expression of the accessibility and collaborative spirit of its staff.
Image Credits: Mike Sinclair and Gould Evans
View Original