Xavier University, one of the oldest Jesuit universities in the country, engaged with DSK to help define and program its central classroom building, Alter Hall. The building is being transformed into a space for pedagogical innovation and curricular flexibility in the 21st century. In addition to accommodating a variety of flexible of learning spaces, as well as house the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and portions of the Honors Program, Alter Hall will continue to serve as home to most of the learning environments on campus. Critical to this 21st century vision are ILEs (Informal Learning Environments) that transition seamlessly from studios and classrooms providing students with impromptu collaboration opportunities.
DSK, in collaboration with Cincinnati architecture firm MSA, worked with Xavier through the project definition phase, giving the building and its role an identity. DSK facilitated workshops for campus stakeholders, ensuring that each constituent group has its programmatic needs satisfied through the identity and design of the renovated Alter Hall.