There are four finalists left as Kent State University nears its decision on a design plan for the new College of Architecture and Environmental Design building. The four remaining firms will present their plans during a public meeting Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.
KSU President Lester Lefton said that he hopes students, staff, alumni and other members of the community will attend the presentations and get a better idea of the possible buildings that could soon be built on campus.
“This is an exciting time for Kent State as we transform our campus with new buildings and renovations and serve as a partner in the redevelopment of downtown Kent,” Lefton said.
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, according to the university.
The estimated cost of the building is $40 million. KSU’s architecture program is currently housed in three separate spaces. The idea is that the new building will unite the entities under one roof, which will be located between Lincoln Street and Haymaker Parkway.
The four finalists who will present on Jan. 17 are:
– Bialosky and Partners Architects, with offices in New York and Cleveland, in association with Architecture Research Office of New York
– Richard L. Bowen and Associates Inc. of Cleveland in association with Weiss/Manfredi of New York
– The Collaborative Inc. of Toledo, Ohio, in association with the Miller Hull Partnership of Seattle
– Westlake Reed Leskosky, with offices in Cleveland and four other cities
“It will be tremendously exciting to see how the four architecture firms conceptualize our college’s new home,” said Doug Steidl, dean of the program.
The firms had opportunities to get an idea of what the campus wanted through web surveys, interviews and informal conversation sessions.
The event, which is free, will be at the University Auditorium in Cartwright Hall, located at 650 Hilltop Drive in Kent. Those who are interested in seeing the proposed building designs but cannot attend can watch it live online or see the presentations later at their convenience.
To watch the live stream, go to https://ksutube.kent.edu/watchlive.php?playthis=5049.
Following the Jan. 17 presentations, the sustainability data provided by the finalists will be analyzed and their cost estimates will be reviewed by independent sources while the presentation materials are further evaluated by the selection committee to determine the winning design scheme.
The winner of the competition is expected to be announced in February.
For more information about Kent State’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design, visit www.kent.edu/caed.