Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., is set to begin a project to renovate and expand the Davis Center, a facility that acts as the physical, intellectual, and programmatic heart of the school’s efforts to build an inclusive community on Williams’ campus.
Leers Weinzapfel Associates, in collaboration with J. Garland Enterprises, will expand the 18,650-sf Davis Center to 26,350 sf with a new addition. The project will also include comprehensive renovations of the adjacent Rice and Jenness Houses. The resulting facility will feature universal access and increased space to accommodate Minority Coalition student gatherings, meetings, dialogue, classes, socializing, studying, and programming.
The new and renovated center will include modernized space built for current and future needs. The building will be a hub for the education, activism, community building, academic exploration, well-being, and celebration that happens within.
The project will reflect the domestic scale of the neighboring Rice and Jenness Houses with an open, glazed ground floor that acts as an invitation to broad campus engagement. A roofscape references the peaks and valleys of the mountain ranges that surround the college.
Additionally, the Center will house a new large gathering and event space to host the wide range of Davis Center programs, student group meeting spaces at a variety of sizes, staff office space to accommodate program growth, and improved kitchens for cultural and student group use.
The Davis Center is slated for completion in fall 2023.
Related Stories
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 15, 2018
Is this the most environmentally sustainable arena in the country?
The university arena was designed by Architectural Resources Cambridge.
Sponsored | University Buildings | May 7, 2018
Metal composite materials engineer sound and inspire bold designs
University Buildings | May 3, 2018
Williams College bookstore is a LEED Platinum space for more than just books
CambridgeSeven designed the campus bookstore.
Art Galleries | Apr 23, 2018
VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art officially opens
Steven Holl Architects designed the building.
University Buildings | Apr 19, 2018
University of Minnesota’s Pioneer Hall to receive $104.5 million renovation/addition
The original building was no longer functional for modern day purposes.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 19, 2018
Northwestern’s new multi-sport training facility offers expansive views of Lake Michigan
Perkins+Will designed the facility.
University Buildings | Apr 18, 2018
University of Hawaii’s new Administration & Allied Health Building nears completion
Perkins+Will’s LA Studio designed the building.
Energy-Efficient Design | Mar 20, 2018
University of Hawaii Maui College on pace to become first U.S. campus to generate 100% renewable energy on-site
The project is part of a partnership with Johnson Controls and Pacific Current that will also allow four UH community college campuses on Oahu to significantly reduce their fossil fuel consumption.
University Buildings | Mar 14, 2018
Harvard’s District Energy Facility showcases a new infrastructure typology
The building is currently under construction.
University Buildings | Mar 7, 2018
New living/learning community replaces two outdated residence halls at Emporia State University
KWK Architects designed the project.