flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

A 1920s cheese factory is now a university science building

University Buildings

A 1920s cheese factory is now a university science building

Almost 15,000 sf of space was added to the original, four-story building.


By David Malone, Associate Editor | October 10, 2017
Troy Hall's north facade

Photo courtesy of Perkins+Will

When Troy Hall was constructed in 1921, it was used as a dairy building that housed the Washington State University (WSU) Creamery, Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe, and chemistry classes. After closing its doors in 2010, Troy Hall retired its cheese equipment and decided to focus on the chemistry. Roughly seven years later, Troy Hall reopened as the new home of the Department of Chemistry and School of the Environment.

The Perkins+Will-designed building added almost 15,000 sf of new space to the north of the building, bringing the total square footage of the four-story building up to 50,000. The new space is used for private and open offices and meeting spaces of various sizes.

 

Troy Hall's north entryPhoto courtesy Perkins+Will.

 

An oversized, naturally lit staircase connects the new space with the rest of the 35,000-sf building. Collaborative and informal meeting spaces are located near the new stairwell on each floor. These new spaces are meant to form the new “academic heart” of Troy Hall. Teaching and research labs and flexible spaces that can be used for a variety of uses fill out the rest of the building.

Due to the historic nature of the building, Perkins+Will preserved as much of the historic character as possible. All four walls from the original 1920s façade and the terra cotta from the original entrance were deconstructed, restored, and relocated to the building’s new front door.

 

Troy Hall's stairway atriumPhoto courtesy Perkins+Will.

 

In addition to Perkins+Will, the design-build team also comprised Lydig Construction. The rest of the build team was composed of Parametric, Inc. (CE), Coughlin Porter Lundeen (SE), PAE Engineers (MEP), and Swift Company (landscape architect).

 

Troy Hall's stairway atriumPhoto courtesy of Perkins+Will.

 

Troy Hall's south facadePhoto courtesy of Perkins+Will.

 

Troy Hall in 1933Photo: PC 70 Hutchison Studio Photographs of W.S.U. 

 

Related Stories

| Nov 15, 2013

Greenbuild 2013 Report - BD+C Exclusive

The BD+C editorial team brings you this special report on the latest green building trends across nine key market sectors. 

| Nov 15, 2013

Metal makes its mark on interior spaces

Beyond its long-standing role as a preferred material for a building’s structure and roof, metal is making its mark on interior spaces as well. 

| Nov 13, 2013

Installed capacity of geothermal heat pumps to grow by 150% by 2020, says study

The worldwide installed capacity of GHP systems will reach 127.4 gigawatts-thermal over the next seven years, growth of nearly 150%, according to a recent report from Navigant Research.

| Oct 30, 2013

15 stellar historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and renovation projects

The winners of the 2013 Reconstruction Awards showcase the best work of distinguished Building Teams, encompassing historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and renovations and additions.

| Oct 30, 2013

11 hot BIM/VDC topics for 2013

If you like to geek out on building information modeling and virtual design and construction, you should enjoy this overview of the top BIM/VDC topics.

| Oct 18, 2013

Researchers discover tension-fusing properties of metal

When a group of MIT researchers recently discovered that stress can cause metal alloy to fuse rather than break apart, they assumed it must be a mistake. It wasn't. The surprising finding could lead to self-healing materials that repair early damage before it has a chance to spread. 

| Oct 8, 2013

Toronto Maple Leafs arena converted to university recreation facility

Using steel reinforcement and massive box trusses, a Building Team methodically inserts four new floors in the landmark arena while preserving and restoring its historic exterior.

| Oct 7, 2013

10 award-winning metal building projects

The FDNY Fireboat Firehouse in New York and the Cirrus Logic Building in Austin, Texas, are among nine projects named winners of the 2013 Chairman’s Award by the Metal Construction Association for outstanding design and construction.

| Oct 1, 2013

13 structural steel buildings that dazzle

The Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., are among projects named 2013 IDEAS2 winners by the American Institute of Steel Construction.

| Sep 24, 2013

8 grand green roofs (and walls)

A dramatic interior green wall at Drexel University and a massive, 4.4-acre vegetated roof at the Kauffman Performing Arts Center in Kansas City are among the projects honored in the 2013 Green Roof and Wall Awards of Excellence. 

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




Mass Timber

Bjarke Ingels Group designs a mass timber cube structure for the University of Kansas

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and executive architect BNIM have unveiled their design for a new mass timber cube structure called the Makers’ KUbe for the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design. A six-story, 50,000-sf building for learning and collaboration, the light-filled KUbe will house studio and teaching space, 3D-printing and robotic labs, and a ground-level cafe, all organized around a central core.

halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021