In a project of likely interest to those who design community space, such as church designers, Emporia State University administrators decided to construct a 324-bed living/learning community for ESU students to replace two outdated residence halls on campus.
St. Louis-based KWK Architects was hired as the design architect on the $22-million project, with HTK Architects of Topeka, Kan., serving as the architect-of-record.
The process of designing the new residence hall was very inclusive, with a close-knit client group that included representatives from a variety of stakeholders, including students, faculty, residential life, student affairs, building services, information technology and others.
The design of the new 91,000-square-foot building, recently named Schallenkamp Hall after the university's 14th president, Dr. Kay Schallenkamp, features four stories and three residential wings, each with a variety of bedroom configurations (doubles, accessible doubles, singles and singles + bathroom). The residential wings are also designed with lounge areas, corridors with natural light and community bathrooms that afford privacy.
The design for Schallenkamp Hall also includes a learning commons area that features:
- Two music practice rooms
- Art studio
- Team study room
- A mid-sized classroom
- Flexible collaboration space
- Two-story lounges with community kitchens
"The entire design process for Schallenkamp Hall has maintained focus on the creation of intentional places--and spaces for community and learning to develop and deepen," says Cass Coughlin, director of the department of residential life at Emporia State University. "The design of a learning commons as the hall’s 'front porch' connects the liberal arts and sciences to the residents via music practice rooms, an art studio, and several areas for group collaboration and study. The design looks great on paper, but Schallenkamp Hall will not realize its full potential and beauty until students—past, present and future—and the Lyon County community animate the building and its design intents."
Schallenkamp Hall is scheduled to open in August 2019.
