Building design presentations also are available online

Douglas Steidl, dean of the College Architecture and
Environmental Design, speaks during the public
presentation of designs for the college's new building.

The four finalists in the competition to design the new Kent State University College of Architecture and Environmental Design building presented their design concepts on Jan. 17.

Models of the design concepts are available to view on the first floor of the Kent State University Library until Feb. 15. Faculty, staff and students can send comments about the designs to caedcomments@kent.edu.

Douglas Steidl, dean of the College Architecture and Environmental Design, says they chose to display the designs in the library so viewers can take their time looking at each design.

“The presentations were shortened from 90 minutes to 20 minutes. These displays give viewers the opportunity to study each design in more detail,” Steidl says.

The estimated cost of the new architecture building is $40 million. Currently, Kent State’s architecture program is housed in three separate structures. The new building will unite the college under one roof, and its new home will be located between Lincoln Street and Haymaker Parkway on the Kent State University Esplanade, a pedestrian walkway through campus that is being extended into downtown Kent.

The new architecture building is part of the university’s campus transformation, called “Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future,” which involves the construction of new buildings, facility upgrades and establishment of dynamic, new spaces.

James Bracken, dean of University Libraries, says the library welcomed the opportunity to provide a place where the Kent State community and the general public could see the models up close.

“We are, of course, also delighted that a new architecture library is prominently featured in each of the models of the new College Architecture and Environmental Design building,” says Bracken.

The presentations also are available to view online at the links below:

Bialosky + Partners Architects, with offices in New York and Cleveland, in association with Architecture Research Office of New York:
http://ksutube.kent.edu/playback.php?playthis=g929c9yz2

WEISS/MANFREDI of New York (Lead Designer) + Richard L. Bowen & Associates of Cleveland (Architect of Record):
http://ksutube.kent.edu/playback.php?playthis=qx0y4axzo

The Collaborative Inc. of Toledo, Ohio, in association with the Miller Hull Partnership of Seattle:
http://ksutube.kent.edu/playback.php?playthis=946f2h22w

Richard L. Bowen + Associates Inc. of Cleveland in association with Weiss/Manfredi of New York:
http://ksutube.kent.edu/playback.php?playthis=4zkjozi74