Lawrence University Hall Commons

The design of this mixed -use campus building reflects a “town & gown” ethos, supporting the university’s interdisciplinary academic programs while fostering mentorship, meetings, and community engagement. The lower levels include galleries, a café, and flexible lecture spaces, with housing and offices featured above.

The classrooms and dry labs meet complex acoustic and mechanical standards, balancing the need for a cohesive academic experience with specialized rooms for rehearsal, study, and research.  Private office spaces for faculty are located on the second floor, while the north-facing glass wall of the museum gift shop provides a visual link between art and the outdoors.
Visitors enter through a covered sculpture courtyard to the bar/cafe “The Drinkery”, filled with natural light by day and vibrant pendant lighting at night. A covered outdoor classroom transitions to interior learning spaces and exhibition galleries, maintaining a visual connection to the farmer’s market and city life. Flexible spaces accommodate visiting lecturers, workshops, and public events.
Upstairs, 40 one and two bedroom apartments feature large windows with views of the Fox River, downtown Appleton, and the gateway to the University. Contemporary finishes and open floor plans allow for furniture layout customization. Common spaces encourage gathering, while with safety in mind, elevator access is secured by electronic key pass.
A metal skin system using the largest manufacturable panels reduced cost without sacrificing aesthetics in this design-build project. The use of pre-fabricated modular units for the top two residential floors saved considerable time, allowing for the construction of the 105,918 square foot complex in 10 months. From the initial exploratory design meetings with the clients to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the building was finished in a year and a half.
A collage of uses with housing, flexible academic spaces, gallery areas, a café, and a sculpture garden, act as a gateway to the campus with collaboration between the campus and community.