Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Minnesota Pioneer Hall Design Wins Grand Award

  • 01/31/20

SAINT PAUL, MN – The University of Minnesota’s Pioneer Hall expansion and renovation project received a Grand Award at the recent American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota’s 53rd Engineering Excellence Awards banquet.

TKDA, an employee-owned provider of engineering, architecture and planning services, led engineering and architecture design services on the project, collaborating with KWK Architects of St. Louis, the project design architect. The team transformed the 90-year-old Georgian Revival-style residence hall in the university’s Superblock district into 18 vibrant student communities while preserving a significant amount of the historic building’s exterior. McGough Construction was the construction manager at risk for the $104.5 million project.

University of Minnesota Pioneer Hall 640

The campus building design for the Pioneer Hall renovation created quality housing and supportive spaces and a dining area to enhance the first- and second-year student experience. Multipurpose and recreation rooms and a mix of study areas and social interaction spaces promote social engagement, one of the key factors in academic success and student retention, particularly among first-year students.

A newly constructed 850-seat dining area at street level accommodates all Superblock residents and is also open to the public. The number of beds increased from 693 on four floors to 756 beds on five floors. The overall building size increased by more than 40 percent.

The annual ACEC/MN gala recognizes engineering firms and their clients for successful projects that demonstrate ingenuity and a high level of accomplishment and that are of value to the community.

Featured

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Photo credit - Chuck Coates

    Florida District Modernizes Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

    Flagler Schools, a public school district in Flagler County, Fla., recently partnered with Matern Professional Engineering to modernize the central energy plants at two of its high schools, according to a news release. The project is part of a larger, district-wide effort to reduce energy costs and operational expenses.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

  • California K–12 District Completes Elementary School Campus Replacement

    The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) in Richmond, Calif., recently announced the completion of a replacement campus for Lake Elementary School, according to a news release. The school has capacity for 470 students between Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and sixth grade.