Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Hartford: E. Clayton Gengras Family Student Union

  • 03/01/18
University of Hartford

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE S/L/A/M COLLABORATIVE

The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM), an integrated design and construction services firm, announces completion of the E. Clayton Gengras Family Student Union at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the original dedication of the facility.

Natural and gradual decay of the facility led the university to modernize the infrastructure and aesthetic of the Student Union. During the planning phase a series of interviews, student surveys, consultant site visits, and gathering of data from benchmarking surveys aided the project planning committee in the final design concept. The new building would incorporate flexibility and collaboration with a more efficient infrastructure, enhanced services, and improved aesthetics.

The project provided both expansion and improvements to gathering and recreational spaces, common areas, dining, offices, and meeting rooms. An existing, underutilized patio was transformed into a new 3,000-square-foot interior lounge and dining area named Hawk Lounge. The existing 82,260-square-foot building underwent significant renovations, including a new commuter lounge and Muslim prayer room with foot baths.

With most student services now located on the building’s main level, the concept of a “Student Services Main Street” was achieved. Consolidation of a former lounge area allowed for expansion of the Career Services Center, and new gathering spaces promote collaboration and encourage students to participate in student organizations and activities.

Exterior improvements to the original brutalist architecture include siding that aligns with the university’s branding and school colors, rendering a more spirited look. The front canopy was replaced with a contemporary look and new lighting fixtures. Hawk Terrace was designed to provide a new outdoor area for gatherings and respite seating during non-event hours.

The facility was occupied during expansion and renovation, and SLAM’s multi-phased approach minimized disruptions, maintained functionality during construction, and managed costs that enabled the inclusion of deferred maintenance work in the final project.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management March 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.