The University of Oregon (UO) and the School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) retained SERA to prepare a Conceptual Design and Programming Study for Allen Hall. The primary objective of the study was to illustrate opportunities and constraints presented by a proposed addition to the existing building, which is located at a key intersection on campus.
The initial phase of concept development included improved energy analysis and a program analysis. A primary driver of the addition was to accommodate a new teaching, learning and collaborative work area centered on evolving curricular needs of digital media production, the Digital Commons. The commons is designed to be a flexible group of studios that provide learning spaces of varying scale and enclosure. Development of a Digital Commons required the consolidation and reorganization of several existing classroom and production areas throughout the building. Other goals included additional faculty offices, development of a clear primary entrance for the building, improvement of internal way finding, and development of a building “center”.
Over the years, there have been several interior interventions to the school. The design team assisted the Advisory Group to evaluate opportunities for renovation and redevelopment that would minimize impact upon recently improved or named spaces within the building. Seven schemes were explored, resulting in one preferred scheme. SOJC is currently fundraising for the project.
