Award of Merit Higher Ed/Research: Scott C Keller Building & Brandon D Fugal Gateway

Abstract

The $60-million project includes 30 classrooms, 205 offices, auditoriums and business labs. As a "Gateway center" and representation of the business world, the school and its advisory board wanted to ensure the building reflected the latest trends in corporate workplace building design and provide flexibility for future upgrades. Business leaders were engaged in the design process to achieve this goal, which resulted in a blend of traditional academic spaces and new workplace environments that also complement the university's existing material palettes. The project was constructed on an active university campus and included demolishing and replacing an existing corridor and tying into existing adjacent buildings. This coordination was crucial to the process, and the team made sure to highlight the importance of public safety and to limit disruption to university operations, pedestrians and traffic.