Introduction | The building for this thesis project is one with a long history. Originally built as the First Baptist Church, it was converted over the years to fulfill a role completely different from its original intent; a student center! During this process and after a series of renovations, the Broad Street main grand entrance lost its place and the arrival into the building became much less choreographed. Essentially, over time one could say that this building had been flipped around, it has lost its original intent, grandeur and purpose. Hypothesis | I challenge the idea of flipping the building back to its original state to return its historical glory, significance and grand emotional experience. I hypothesize that a reorganization of spatial sequence (i.e. bringing the outside in and extending the inside out) can help flip this building around. Materials and Methods | I introduce an internal three sided staircase that mimics what exits exteriorly in an attempt to bring the outside in. This staircase becomes the center’s focal point as it rises to the third mezzanine level. The staircase is based on the “Golden Section” idea of proportional geometries which has been found inherent in the building. I extend the inside out by turning the “monumental” exterior grand steps into a place people can utilize. Results | Placing such a large structure by the building’s entry points had great impact on drawing people into the building and up the steps into the main lounge consequently re-choreographing the arrival experience. The design solution breathes new life into this building while still respecting and acknowledging all of its crucial and historic elements. Just as the altar was a main focal point when this building served as a church, the new transparent elevator shaft that is tucked in between the spiraling stairs becomes the center’s new focal point. The contemporary facade that was inserted asymmetrically on the west side of the building emphasizes the symmetry and contrasts the existing structure causing tension between the old and new but proving that they can coexist.

Based on the research of university Student centers and students’ daily activities within a campus, this Thesis focuses on how to strengthen the relationship between the student and the Student Center, by developing a methodology for a successful architecture that towards making the daily life of a student better. This approach will help overcome current disconnectbetween students’ daily activities and an environmentally integrated experience. The Thesis project focus will be the UMass Amherst’s Student Union. The existing Student Union has long been unable to meet the needs of today’s students, and its shortcomings have been felt throughout the campus, from a sense of alienation to the absence of places for activities and for actively connecting the campus with the environment. Methods: Studying two student centers through visiting and investigating. Studying campus life through observing and recording; Using Questionnaire to collect data; studyingthe interaction between campus and facilities. Using Ecotect and concerned software to build and analyze solar radiation, shading and wind.

This report describes from start to finish how a new design and extension of the Gengras student union center at the University of Hartford was done. The report will be using a project that was made by me and explains how the whole project was planned by contacting S/L/A/M Collaborative Inc. all the way until the final outcome was presented for a final jury. It explains the whole chain process one should use when designing a building such as different analysis, precedent studies, concept development and how to approach the design project. New technologies, the feature of access and flexibility are the main influence words in the design that is being used as an example. These words can be found and felt throughout the whole building both in the façade drawings and in the plan solutions. The result was a building that is more organic and flexible in its forms and spaces than current architecture is today. A sort of architecture that comes more and more in which will shape the society in the future. My building also keeps a sense of the old façade to create a transition between the new and the old. The old and the new cooperation prove that the innovative design does not destroy the old building; it only enhances it and prepares it for the future.

<p>This report describes from start to finish how a new design and extension of the Gengras student union center at the University of Hartford was done. The report will be using a project that was made by me and explains how the whole project was planned by contacting S/L/A/M Collaborative Inc. all the way until the final outcome was presented for a final jury. It explains the whole chain process one should use when designing a building such as different analysis, precedent studies, concept development and how to approach the design project. New technologies, the feature of access and flexibility are the main influence words in the design that is being used as an example. These words can be found and felt throughout the whole building both in the façade drawings and in the plan solutions. The result was a building that is more organic and flexible in its forms and spaces than current architecture is today. A sort of architecture that comes more and more in which will shape the society in the future. My building also keeps a sense of the old façade to create a transition between the new and the old. The old and the new cooperation prove that the innovative design does not destroy the old building; it only enhances it and prepares it for the future.</p>

Master of Architecture