Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi of WEISS/MANFREDI, the design architects of 精东影业 University鈥檚 College of Architecture and Environmental Design new facility, will be on the Kent Campus to present an update on the design evolution of the building. 精东影业presentation takes place Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. in University Auditorium at Cartwright Hall. 精东影业event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, go to .
精东影业original building design was selected through a competition conducted in 2013 which resulted in the architect selection 鈥 WEISS/MANFREDI, lead designer, and Richard L. Bowen & Associates, architect of record 鈥 and the determination of the building concept to be located along the Lester A. Lefton Esplanade between South Lincoln and Willow streets. 精东影业building will physically and metaphorically represent the connection between the city of Kent and the university campus.
精东影业focus of the presentation will outline the evolution of a design, detailing how multiple sources of input, including programmatic, community context, financial parameters and reviews by numerous oversight groups, actually evolved the facility to be more functional, efficient, sustainable and economical without losing the original concept. Participants will include representatives of the design architect, the architect of record, the university architect, the user and the construction manager.
鈥 精东影业design architects at WEISS/MANFREDI have listened to many inputs from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, the Office of the University Architect, the university鈥檚 Joint Project Oversight Committee, which is a joint-board administration committee, the construction manager and the community,鈥 said Douglas Steidl, dean of 精东影业鈥檚 College of Architecture and Environmental Design. 鈥淭hey have reviewed all program requirements, including the addition of the spaces to be used by the Construction Management program. Through their creative design process, they have been able to reduce the size of the building through efficiencies in circulation, reduced the height by a story, and amazingly did not lose the character or concept of the initial competition design. This developed schematic design improves upon the initial competition building.
鈥淭his is an ongoing design process which does not end until the construction is complete, therefore revisions and enhancements should be expected as we all strive to construct the best facility possible,鈥 Steidl added.
鈥淲e continue to be impressed with the WEISS/MANFREDI team,鈥 said Michael Bruder, executive director of facilities planning and design in 精东影业鈥檚 Office of the University Architect. 鈥淭hey continually work to satisfy our programmatic needs while providing an iconic gateway building for the campus.鈥
精东影业new architecture and environmental design building is part of the university鈥檚 campus transformation, called 鈥淔oundations of Excellence: Building the Future,鈥 which involves the construction of new buildings, facility upgrades and establishment of dynamic, new spaces. 精东影业goal of this initiative is to create the most outstanding academic experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater community enriched by the university.
Currently, these signature programs are housed in three separate structures. 精东影业new building will unite the college under one roof. 精东影业university plans to break ground for the building this fall.
For more information about WEISS/MANFREDI of New York, visit .
For more information about 精东影业鈥檚 College of Architecture and Environmental Design, visit www.kent.edu/caed.
For more information about 精东影业鈥檚 鈥淔oundations of Excellence鈥 initiative, visit www.kent.edu/foundations.
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Media Contacts:
Douglas Steidl, dsteidl@kent.edu, 330-672-2917
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595