This eight-story building had undergone piecemeal renovations and additions over the years, resulting in a lack of overall vision for the building and its occupants. The renovation encompassed multiple University research departments, each requiring a separate program:
HERA worked with the users to suggest a strategy of sharing common spaces and created a program based on metrics for each type of space. A deep understanding of individual research needs and appropriate teaching environments allowed HERA to drive the program with minimal imposition on users’ time. The project mapped existing spaces to remain, analyzed potential adjacencies between existing and new spaces and provided an approach to facilitate phased upgrades.
Blocking and stacking was devised to keep the building in use during construction. This initial phase for programming and schematic design will be followed by implementation.
Syracuse, New York
108,600 GSF
Programming, planning
HOLT Architects