Clifton Court Hall, the new interdisciplinary education building is designed to foster a dynamic ecosystem of multimodal learning, research, and community engagement. The project aims to unite dispersed academic units and create a central hub for the college.
The building consolidates six College of Arts and Sciences departments, offering faculty workspaces, specialized labs, administrative offices, classrooms, and a central social hub.
Designed by LMN Architects as a collaborative effort with KZF Design and the general contractor, Messer Construction, this new education building spans more than 17,224 m2 (185,400 sf).
Positioned at the western edge of the campus, Clifton Court Hall serves as a connecting point between the College of Arts and Sciences, the campus core, and the surrounding urban neighborhood.
Architecturally, the design emphasizes expressive volumes that integrate with campus pathways, enhance entry experiences, and intertwine learning and research with the broader campus environment. The building comprises a mix of flexible classrooms, seminar rooms, and collaborative spaces, accommodating more than 1,000 seats and promoting active learning and student collaboration.
The central atrium, illuminated by skylights and expansive windows, serves as a community hub, encouraging academic discourse and social exchange. A distinctive red stairway, spanning three stories diagonally, functions both as a major campus pathway and a connector for interdisciplinary communities within.
Responding to the west campus gateway’s site conditions, the exterior design complements the campus’s architectural heritage while incorporating contemporary principles. The terracotta-paneled facade reflects the red brick tones of existing buildings, creating a welcoming presence for the off-campus community. The building’s massing adapts to the sloping topography, engaging pedestrian pathways and entry points.
Other project collaborators are as follows:
Structural and civil engineer, Buro Happold; landscape architect, MKSK; lighting design by Buro Happold and Studio Lumen; MEP design by Buro Happold; MEP engineer, Pedco E&A Services; acoustic designer, Threshold Acoustics; fire protection/life safety, Jensen Hughes; signage by Harris Architects; and commissioning by Crawford & Asscociates with Four Seasons Environmental.
