University Business - September 2010 - (Page 29)

SENSE OF PLACE University Center at The University of Memphis Building a cultural center for a commuter school By KeriLee Horan What Was originally supposed to be a renovation of the university Center at The University of Memphis (tenn.) became a much bigger project. • Function: a student center also serving faculty, staff, and community • challenges: Due to structural and design problems in the existing university Center—including leaks, air conditioning problems, and difficulties with elevators—Memphis staff decided to start from scratch and design a completely new facility. From there, one of the biggest challenges was finding the best spot on campus for a student activity hub. Demolition of the existing center to build on the same site was deemed best, although that decision brought with it some problems. largely a commuter school, students would be left without space to gather for study groups and to hang out between classes as the institution embarked on the single most expensive building campaign in its history. planning for the project began in 2003, while building demolition and construction started in 2007. • solution: During the two-year construction period, campus officials compensated for the lack of a student center by renovating a sorority to use as a temporary center and furnishing existing lounge space throughout campus with extra tables, couches, and chairs. But students weren’t just accommodating about using a new space during construction. Through student government surveys, they largely agreed to fund the project also, through a $96 student debt fee, which will pay off 30-year bonds used to finance the construction. This spring the new building, totaling 169,000 square feet, was ready. its three levels consist of offices for student orgauniversitybusiness.com 2010 University of Memphis 2010 Jeffrey Jacobs Featuring a grand sky-lit atrium (right), the center has been getting even more use from the campus community than anticipated. nizations and greek chapters; a ballroom equipped to seat 1,000; a 350-seat theater; a three-story atrium; a food court including several “concept” areas such as pizza, hamburger, and sushi bars, a grab-and-go area, and a stand-alone restaurant; and official university offices. of the university’s 21,000 students, 18,000 are commuters, so an inviting atmosphere was important. “We wanted to build a space where students would want to come on a daily basis. ... our campus had really lacked that even in the old university Center,” says Bill porter, assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students. reb haizlip, the lead design architect for haizlip studio, says, “We tried very hard to fulfill the university’s objective and create this central hub, with the radial point being the atrium. it brought to the floor that this is an urban campus; it’s a magnet for students, staff, and the community, and we tried to reflect that in the design.” and the center has been just that. “it is exceeding our expectations,” says porter. “We had to expand the hours of the building and some of the spaces within it almost immediately.” • cost: $50 million • completed: March 2010 • project team: inman Construction (general contractor), haizlip studio (lead design architect), Fisher & arnold (architect), all of Memphis Breaking Ground: Other Places • RenOvatiOn Of/additiOn tO the COyne SCienCe CenteR at Le Moyne CoLLege (n.y.). Currently at 67,000 square feet, the building will have an additional 48,000 square feet when completed in late 2011. designed by ashley McGraw architects of Syracuse, the building will foster collaborative learning by having classroom and lab spaces adjacent to faculty offices and common areas. Leed certification is expected. • COnStRuCtiOn Of GRaduate Student hOuSinG at the SCienCe + teChnOLOGy PaRk at Johns hopkins University in BaLtiMORe. the 572-bed, 20-story building will be constructed on university land and leased to a subsidiary of education Realty trust, which will develop and manage the project. the property will draw residents from the more than 4,000 students and fellows attending the schools of medicine, nursing, and public health. a 2012 completion date is anticipated. September 2010 | 29 http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - September 2010

University Business - September 2010
Contents
Editor's Note
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Behind the News
Viewpoint
Financial Aid
Sense of Place
Internet Technology
Approaching Admissions Today
Three to Degree
Have College Brands Delivered on Their Promise?
Honoring Efficiency
EduComm 2010 Roundup
View from the Summit
Independent Outlook
What's New
End Note

University Business - September 2010