“Nontraditional students” are an ever-changing and diverse population of the College of General Studies, many of them coming to university education later in life. The mission of the McCarl Center is to provide programs and services, extending from orientation through graduation, and to promote and support their academic success and personal growth. The design team translated this goal into a highly crafted environment to suit the client’s mission.
The Center was inserted into reclaimed space that originally housed two-level library stacks in the Cathedral of Learning, a 42-story Gothic Revival tower that is the University’s signature building. The main conference room takes advantage of one of the high bay spaces that is part of this historic structure. Steel structures frame the passages, transporting students into a welcoming and comfortable place for group or individual study.
The McCarl Center and the College of General Studies were relocated in 2014 to share a space in Posvar Hall. Strada helped to design this renovation as well, with similar program elements as in the original McCarl Center, and this time adjoining a major ground floor corridor and a large outdoor terrace.
– University Chancellor Mark Nordenberg
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