C L A Y T O N U N I V E R S I T Y C E N T E R Bob Mohr said the building, as a campus crossroads, needs to be welcoming to as many people as possible. “People come in from all corners of campus to the building and through the building,” he said. “And so the idea is that we are creating spaces that work well for everyone. While some spaces lean toward food, and others lean toward work or recreation, everybody can fnd a home in the CUC.” Plans went through several iterations, as Lehigh noted a shift in students’ dining patterns throughout the pandemic. In the focus groups, students were asked to describe their cherished Lehigh spaces and to share their design ideas, as well as their menu preferences. While students recognized the CUC’s grand architecture, they expressed a desire for more “comfortable” spaces where they could relax, fnd a better array of food options and enjoy a more vibrant atmosphere conducive to socializing. The students also expressed a need for spaces that allowed collaborative learning opportunities. As part of Lehigh’s ongoing eforts to advance its diversity, inclusion and equity (DI&E) goals, the university is partnering with construction manager Skanska USA to better engage minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBE) in the project construction. Skanska provides training to those emerging businesses in construction business management fundamentals and ensures bid packages are structured to achieve higher rates of MWDBE participation. “What’s unique about this is the intentionality of the approach, of how we’re ensuring that we are considering and incorporatingDI&E and our goals and principles into this project, every step of theway,” saidDonaldOuting, vice president for equity and community at Lehigh. Restoring the Historical Vision The full-gut renovation of the building that took place in the 1950s changed the building’s original aesthetic, Mohr said. The windows were replaced with stormwindows and insect screens that obscured the view onto the lawn area and reduced the amount of light fowing into the building. Added wood details and doors also hid some of the building’s original archways. Themain challenge, he said, will be to reverse the clutter that happened in the 1950s project. “What you have in there now is a pastiche of diferent styles,” Mohr said. “Part of our goal is to strip away a lot of what was added so that the oldest part of the building can have a stronger presence. We look for opportunities here and there to reveal an archway that might have been hidden behind a wall, or cleaning up a stone wall and highlighting it … or making sure that the freplace is put back into use and has a presence in the building.” Newwindows will improve the building’s energy performance, be easier tomaintain and bring inmore light. Shepley Bulfnch drew inspiration for thewindow systemfromthe building’s original 1860s appearance. “After the renovation is over, the hope is that at night, when [the building] is full of life, it’ll be glowing with those existing stone archways all along the north facade,” Mohr said. “And that’s going to really let the building be its true self. “It’ll be renovated in our century, but it has components from the 20th century and the 19th century,” he said. “The 19th-century building has that amazing stone facade, some of the elements of which will be featured on the inside.” The new open stairway will improve movement and wayfnding between the second and third foors. As “PART OF OUR GOAL IS TO STRIP AWAY A LOT OF WHAT WAS ADDED SO THAT THE OLDEST PART OF THE BUILDING CAN HAVE A STRONGER PRESENCE.” —BOB MOHR LEAD DESIGNER ARCHI TECT students enter the building from the south entrance, which will be modifed to also allow in more light, they will be able to go up the central stairway to the third foor, where they will fnd the pub, the game room/lounge area and the executive conference room. Blackburn said the building’s historic wooden trusses and stained glass windows will be preserved on Students will be able to share a meal in the lower eatery on the first floor or pick up essentials from an adjacent convenience store. 2 8 | L E H I G H B U L L E T I N 2 8 | L E H I G H B U L L E T I N
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