Higher Education

From student residences to classrooms, athletic fields to hands-on lab spaces, we work across all types of higher education facilities to create world-class spaces for students to learn.

Creating spaces that foster learning and growth is at the core of our Higher Education practice. Whether we’re designing a classroom or a residence hall or anything in between, we believe that the space needs to be unique to its users and embody the character and goals of its campus.

How to Create Spaces of Continuous Learning

What Differentiates Today's College Campus


A college campus is a place where students start to mature into adulthood, and older students fulfill ambitions to grow their education. So how do you create spaces for every type of student and every type of need?

  • Flexible Spaces: Classrooms and lab spaces should be able to flex to student and faculty needs, shifting to accommodate lectures as well as hands-on learning.
  • Transversal Skills: Just as many academic programs require lab work, students also need a “lab space” to hone and practice their soft skills, achievable through learning and communal living spaces sprinkled throughout resident units and collaboration spaces.
  • Rebounding From Failure: Many students may face failure for the first time once they get to college. When placed with other similarly talented or better athletes, academics, or performers, a failure for a student that has never faced this within their previous high school career can be devastating. How can the community within the Res Hall provide a support network for students to help rebound from failure or celebrate success?

Creating Environments that Foster Learning

Higher education design involves far more than just the classroom – the experience created by environments for learning, socialization, rest and collaboration factor into every project, regardless of its core purpose. Flexible spaces, state-of-the-art technology, collaboration zones, outdoor spaces and more can all create opportunities for connection and community, between students and their peers as well as faculty.

  • Enhanced Collegiate Experience

    Both programmed and informal learning spaces foster continuous learning both in and outside of the classroom.

  • Ownership in Creating the Campus Context

    Invite current students to weigh in on what matters to them, creating spaces that come from the student view point on furniture comfort, ease of use, and function, but more importantly their perspective and priorities.

  • Desired Amenities

    Colleges must compete with the myriad of attractive amenities. Students expect low barriers to consistent strong, high-speed internet, wellness and collaboration spaces, high tech classroom technology, and more.

Want to learn more? We'd love to talk.

Dennis Coudriet, AIA, NCARB

Architect / Principal
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Ed Vidlak, AIA, NCARB

Architect / Principal
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Mark Bacon, AIA

Architect / Principal
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