Undergraduate Deans Office, Bryn Mawr College

Built as a campus computing center in the mid-1980s, Eugenia Chase Guild Hall features strong, simple geometry and a domestic-scale stone building above ground that belies the building’s 9,000 square feet of below-grade spaces. BKP transformed the building from a no-longer-useful center for equipment to a light-filled and welcoming space for people. The Undergraduate Deans Office project consolidated student advisory services, including deans’ offices, the residence life department, international programs, student access services, academic support, and learning resources. The project became a study in light, physically and emotionally illuminating the space. Patterns of sun and shade were carefully explored to bring sunlight into all of the private offices and communal areas and to better connect the interior with an exterior courtyard. To establish a familial atmosphere, each part of the floor plan was conceived as a room, including the stair towers, which are accented with comfortable furniture, warm colors, and artwork. The project centralizes services for student convenience while facilitating more frequent conversations and collaboration among deans’ office staff.

Media Coverage

American School & University: Educational Interiors Showcase