Residence-Hall-Renovation-Student-Life-Reimagined

RESIDENCE HALL RENOVATION STUDENT LIFE REIMAGINED Especially when that new life is student life A newly renovated residence hall, done well, creates a place on campus where engagement is revived in lounges, study rooms and corridors Even community baths, once simply a rite of passage to be endured, feel more like health club locker rooms More times than not, these halls become the most requested places to live on campus Something wonderful can happen when new life is breathed into an old building In our experience renovating student housing over the last 28 years, our team at KSQ Design has helped universities transform dark, unused basements into vibrant centers of recreation, vacant corridors into active zones for socializing and dated lounges into hubs that build community While thoughtful, creative design solutions are the hallmark of our approach, so is listening well Time and again, we find that our clients and project partners are struck by our philosophy that a good idea can come from anyone at the table—from administrators and faculty to students and staff Building community through good design isn’t simply what we do— it’s This mindset makes all the difference why we what we PLACES FOR ACADEMICS PROGRAMMING FOR THE RIGHT FIT Our process begins with planning exercises such as focus groups and design charrettes on your campus where we learn more about your priorities and Before vision Our willingness to listen and collaborate with your team allows us to identify strategic, creative solutions for capitalizing on lost space that can be reimagined for amenities, community spaces and student units to strike the right balance for your particular project After Integrating living/learning communities or a residential college model into an existing hall offers a unique opportunity for housing to play an important role in how many students learn today Finding areas to add faculty-inresidence apartments, classrooms and study rooms while minimizing bed loss is a creative programming exercise in which our team is well versed These “fish bowl” study pods in the corridors allow students to see and be seen while adding a measure of separation and quiet for focused study A central stair was created to connect the main floor lobby to the existing basement, allowing for new circulation patterns and natural light to greatly improve the use of this space “OLD NAVY, GAP AND BANANA REPUBLIC” OPTIONS When economically feasible (sometimes, sadly, a building must come down), a renovation is the right solution in order to be good stewards of a university’s resources We like to provide “good, better, best” design options for your team to consider, what one university liked to call the “Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic” range of options We look for ways to help you keep what works (such as existing openings for plumbing, electrical, etc.) in order to maximize your budget This approach allows you to think through priorities on space types and finishes to find the best fit for your needs "FOUND" SPACES Utilizing every opportunity to reimagine a space can deliver spectacular results Nooks under stairs or in corridors, or expanded community kitchens such as this one in a renovated front lobby at Baylor University serve to engage students One of our favorite aspects of housing renovations are the found spaces we uncover in the design process Study nooks and window seats carved out of long corridors, extra space for a larger community kitchen and a new recreation spot in a lounge all add up to a residence hall where students can find a variety of ways to see and be seen, whether solo or part of a larger group NATURAL LIGHT Most vintage or legacy halls have one thing in common—a lack of vital natural light We look for every opportunity to creatively bring this into a space One of our favorite solutions was a glass block floor near an upstairs lounge that allowed light to flood the basement corridor below Adding a central stair connecting the lobby to the basement below also provides both connectivity and a source of light below We often reimagine a more dynamic main entry with larger doors (and ADA accessibility) and windows that welcome the sunlight in but also showcase the activity inside to the walkways beyond Creative ideas to bring light into a dim basement space include solutions such as glass block flooring—interest is added to the floor above as well CLIENT LIST KSQ is recognized nationally for its student life expertise Our university projects span more than 75 campuses across the nation—over 100,000 beds and more than one million square feet of dining space—and illustrate our deep understanding and commitment to students through the development of spaces that facilitate living, learning and social interaction Baylor University Brunswick Community College College of Coastal Georgia Colorado Mesa University Colorado School of Mines Metropolitan State University of Denver University of Colorado at Boulder University of Colorado at Colorado Springs University of Colorado at Denver Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Missouri State University New Mexico State University North Carolina Central University North Carolina State University Northeastern State University Oklahoma State University Oral Roberts University Rogers State University Rutgers Camden Sam Houston State University Criswell College Skidmore College East Central University Southern Methodist University Fayetteville Technical Community College Stanly Community College Texas Tech University Texas Woman’s University University of Arkansas Fayetteville University of Arkansas Little Rock University of Central Oklahoma University of Dayton University of Dayton University of Houston University of Illinois University of Kansas University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Michigan University of Missouri St Louis University of Northern Iowa University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Wilmington University of South Carolina at Beaufort University of South Carolina at Lancaster University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at Dallas University of Texas at El Paso University of Tulsa University of Vermont Wesleyan College University of Oklahoma Western Piedmont Community College Stephen F Austin State University University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Williams College Stony Brook University University of Rhode Island High Point University Temple University Institute of Technology Utica Rome Texas A&M University Kingsville University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Liberty University Texas Christian University Gallaudet University Guilford Technical Community College State University of New York Albany University of North Carolina at Charlotte Yale University York Technical College KSQ Design is a full-service architectural, engineering and interior design firm specializing in creating memorable student life spaces—from dynamic dining halls to vibrant student unions and thoughtful residence halls—for university campuses nationwide To learn more about how we’ve transformed the student experience through good design, visit us at www.ksq.design Contact: Monica Roberts Principal 918.592.0622 mroberts@ksq.design www.ksq.design