Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

MSU Reveals Design for Multicultural Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/16/23

Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, recently released the design concept for its new Multicultural Center, according to a press release. The 34,000-square-foot facility will be located in the middle of campus and be the first independent building of its kind on campus. The university partnered with SmithGroup for its design, and groundbreaking is expected to take place this spring.

Features are set to include office space for the Council of Racial and Ethnic Students and the Council of Progressive Students; the Dreamer Center, which supports undocumented students; collaboration spaces, an art gallery wall; a resource center; and an outdoor amphitheater facing the nearby Red Cedar River.

“The new MSU Multicultural Center will be a sanctuary for all minorities and provides opportunities to celebrate and acknowledge our collective histories,” said SmithGroup Design Principal Monteil Crawley. “It empowers people to learn about who we are today and allows others to overcome their fear of what they don’t understand or haven’t experienced. The center aims to educate all on the richness of multiculturalism.”

The Michigan State University Board of Trustees authorized the university to move forward with construction plans during its February 2023 meeting. The press release notes that the new facility aligns with MSU’s DEI Strategic Plan and bolsters efforts to increase diversity on campus. Students and community stakeholders were given the chance to provide input and feedback on the building and its design during multiple community engagement sessions with SmithGroup.

“For students to succeed beyond the walls of an institution, it is essential to build a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Tricia Beck, Vice President and Higher Education Studio Leader with the Detroit office of SmithGroup. “Michigan State University’s new multicultural center strives to create a welcoming environment that encourages the acceptance and expression of all genders, races, religions, abilities, and cultures.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Photo courtesy of Kraus-Anderson

    Minnesota District Completes $49.7M Addition, Renovation Project

    St. Paul Public Schools in St. Paul, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $49.7-million addition and remodeling project at two district schools, according to a news release.

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.

  • Cal Poly Humboldt Starts Construction on Healthcare Education Hub

    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, Calif., recently announced that work has begun on a renovation project that will turn the Stewart Building into a new Healthcare Education Hub, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Sundt Construction Inc. for construction services.