Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Miami Completes Renovations to Student Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 12/07/23

The University of Miami recently announced that renovations to its Student Village on the second floor of the Whitten University Center are complete, according to a news release. The Student Village plays home to departments and suites for student groups and organizations including the Veterans Resource Center, the LBGTQ+ Student Center, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, and more. The university partnered with architecture firm DLR Group for the project’s design.

The project’s goal was to renovate the 15,000-square-foot space to create a “warm and social haven” with a unified, cooperative, welcoming, and functional design, the news release reports. The design process entailed extensive engagement with students and staff.


Photo by Chad Baumer

“DLR Group was intentional in gathering feedback and listening to members of the university community,” said Renée Dickens Callan, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President of Student Life at the University. “They paid special attention to the student voice and worked diligently to incorporate their ideas, which resulted in a space that visually illustrates the importance of representation and a commitment to creating a culture of belonging.”

Each student group’s space features its own palette of colors, textures, and patterns reflecting its cultural history. Communal lounges pay tribute to each group’s palette while also melding them into a single, cohesive space. Wall murals also reflect the values of the different groups within.

“Working on the murals for the Whitten Center lounge provided me an opportunity to not only learn about the different cultures and customs of each unique student group, but to gain a deeper understanding of what representation means to them,” said DLR Group Associate and Experiential Graphic Designer Jovaney Hollingsworth. “It was an honor working on this project.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

  • Kimball International Releases Curated Design Support Program

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced the launch of a new end-to-end design support program, DesignSuite. According to a news release, its goal is to guide architecture & design professionals and dealer partners through the process from vision to specification.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • Full Sail University Announces First Student Housing Facility

    Full Sail University in Winter Park, Fla., recently announced that development has begun on its first student housing community, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Nvision Development for construction and long-term management of the facility, which will stand five stories and have the capacity for more than 570 beds.