Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Washington University: Hillman Hall

  • 09/01/16
Washington University: Hillman Hall

PHOTOS © COLINS LOZADA/MOORE RUBLE YUDELL

The design of the new 106,000-gross-square-foot Hillman Hall for the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis redefines the traditional academic building through open floor plans that encourage collaboration and offer equitable access to natural light. With its commitment to LEED Platinum sustainability, diversity and accessibility, Hillman is one of the most innovative buildings in higher education.

Mackey Mitchell worked in partnership with Moore Ruble Yudell Architects to design the facility. The highly collaborative process included early design workshops with administrators, faculty, staff and students to identify priorities and build consensus. Consensus from these workshops supported a building that explores new design strategies and pedagogy inspiring progressive education, research and collaboration.

The building features more than 6,200 square feet of social space designed to promote faculty, staff and student interaction and collaboration. On each floor, occupants circulate along the internal “street,” always visually connected to daylight and views with a variety of adjacent spaces promoting chance encounters for increased interaction. An extensive WiFi network supports workspaces and outdoor study areas. Glasswalled offices and open workstations also enhance collaboration. A variety of settings are provided through colors, smells, materials and furnishings to suit the varying needs of faculty, students and staff.

Ample views to the outdoors, access to daylight, interior vegetation, outdoor classrooms and biophilic design elements are provided. Naturally ventilated double-story Interior Gardens allow researchers to connect more closely with nature and the outdoors and with others while allowing deeper daylight penetration into the upper floors. Outdoor classrooms and meditation areas support a variety of learning environments and experiences.

The Forum, a two-story multipurpose space, provides a light-filled area for a range of activities from informal gatherings to formal lectures supported by retractable glass walls, full audio/visual support and darkening shades. Curving floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide a panoramic view.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management September 2016 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Florida District Completes Construction on New Leadership Institute

    Pinellas County Schools near Tampa, Fla., recently announced that construction is complete on the new Dr. Michael A. Grego Leadership Institute, according to a news release. The district partnered with Rowe Architects for the project’s design and with Skanska for construction services.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Johns Hopkins Starts Construction on New Residence Hall, Dining Facility

    The Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., recently began construction on a new residence hall and dining facility, according to university news. The work involves demolishing the existing Alumni Memorial Residence Hall I, which was built in 1923, to make room for the new facility.

  • Higher Ed is Betting on New Buildings While Quietly Undermining Their Campuses — Here’s Why

    In this climate, the owner’s representative has changed from a delivery-focused advisor to a strategic campus partner. Institutions are increasingly relying on owner’s reps not just to manage, cope, schedule, and budget, but also help evaluate whether a project should proceed at all.