A 1930’s era Georgian style campus dining hall that had fallen into disuse was restored and repurposed to create a new center of student life on campus.

A curving steel framework was inserted into the main building volume to house campus information services, dining and retail venues, student conference space, and ending in shared office space for the student activities organizations. Spaces created between the “marketplace” framework and existing shell range from a quiet, window-lit table to study at, to a larger event space that can support small concerts.

A 120 foot long photo mural comprised of contemporary and historic images of Louisiana Tech student life undulates between the steel trusses the length of the framework, concealing HVAC systems.

Exterior additions are respectful of the materials and scale of the original building. Transparent glass bays project from the front of the building to house a student lounge and coffee shop, with prominent views into the university’s Centennial Plaza.