Driscoll Student Center - University of Denver

BA was contracted to verify the assumptions outlined in a preliminary program for renovation of the existing DU Student Center. The process of program review was not limited to quantitative review, but included the development of Design Principles that BA could use to propose concepts that reached beyond the renovation of the Student Center to solve the problem of the location of the Student Center. The campus was severed by the large thoroughfare Evans Avenue (1).

Programming explores adjacency and function. The site plan (2) illustrates the location of the Student Center in relation to the campus. Programming requires communication skills, knowledge and an inquisitive streak to go beyond preconceived ideas. In this case, the renovation proposed in the original program did not initially consider uniting the Center with the Campus. Integrating a program that explored all of the issues, collected the data, defined the expectations, and provided enough detail about the context and goals led BA to propose a bridging structure to connect the two sides of the campus. The bridge over Evans has become a landmark for the University (3).

The old building was renovated to include a relocated book center, administrative and student offices, meeting rooms, and other support spaces. The total period of construction was 24 months, during which the Student Center maintained continuous operation (4).

See Also:
- Driscoll Student Center
- Awards