Emory University Student Center

Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University envisioned a student center to serve as a central hub for discourse, social gathering, cultural exploration and service opportunities. The new facility creates a ‘new heart’ at the crossroads of multiple campus pathways. Recurring themes of ‘community building,’ ‘collaboration space,’ and ‘out of the box thinking’ informed the arrangement of pavilions and multi-story spaces on a hill. A generous canopy unifies the individual pavilions, which are made permeable with the creation of circulation and lounge areas placed between program elements including intimate study spots and a large public piazza.

The project addresse growing demands for student-oriented space; a desire for larger, more flexible and efficient dining, technology and infrastructure; and expanded room for student organizations, socializing and gathering. New dining facilities offer options for all dietary needs. A large 1,200-seat event space includes spillover capacity to accommodate another 400 additional seats.