Schools In Focus: KSU’s New Multicultural Student Center

Schools In Focus is a podcast dedicated to the design, planning and management of educational facilities and campuses. Listen in as senior editor Yvonne Marquez chats with industry experts, facility managers, architects, security and safety professionals, and other thought leaders. Catch up on previous episodes here.

Today's episode is on Kansas State University's new multicultural student center.

Schools In Focus, Episode 9: KSU's New Multicultural Student Center

Schools In Focus podcast logo on the left and Ishita Banerjii's headshot on the right.  

Kansas State University debuted a brand-new building last month. The Morris Family Multicultural Student Center is a space for campus organizations to advance student diversity, social justice and inclusion. The team of architects and designers behind the project was mostly made up of women.

In this episode of Schools In Focus, I spoke to Ishita Banerjii, project architect at Hollis + Miller, to talk about the new multicultural student center. The building features various gathering spaces from dance studios, huddle rooms, and a commercial kitchen.

We discuss the vision behind the center, how the team incorporated feedback from numerous student groups, and the significance of having a multicultural student center on campus in the Midwest.

KSU Multicultural Student Center. Courtesy of Hollis + Miller.

“In the long run, KSU does identify this as an opportunity to advance enrollment on campus,” Banerjii says. “Being in the Midwest, it’s kind of hard to let the word out of how welcoming they are towards the multicultural community or the diversity on campus. Essentially, they see this as an opportunity to reach out to students who would not consider KSU just for its location or the possibility of being accepted or not on the campus.”

Listen in to learn more about the new building.

Where to Listen

Schools In Focus is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. Subscribe today, or listen below!

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Little Grand Market

    Designing for Belonging: Why Student Wellness Starts with Space

    From walkable site planning to flexible interiors, intentional design choices play a critical role in how students experience comfort, connection, and community.

  • El Paso District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, recently announced that construction has begun on a 119,000-square-foot elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects, Carl Daniel Architects, and LDCM Solutions on the new Davenport Elementary School, which has an expected completion date of 2027.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

Digital Edition