University at Buffalo - Natural Science Complex

Lecture Hall Renovations & Creation of Adjacent Learning Landscapes I Interior Design I Buffalo, NY I Under Construction: 2020-2021

The University at Buffalo’s Facilities team has been working across campus to evolve and improve student learning environments. As technology changes, so do students’ needs. Outdated lecture halls needed improved acoustics, updates for ADA requirements, more access to outlets for students’ devices, and redesigned floor plans to maximize space and encourage collaboration. The facilities team wanted the design concept to reflect UB’s brand and blend with existing building materials from the 1990s. 

We began by redefining the outside walls of the lecture halls, taking space from unused closets to create touch down and collaborative study areas just outside the lecture halls in the new learning landscapes. Skylights will add natural light in those areas, and windows will be added between the spaces. Walls in both the lecture halls and study areas will be equipped with magnet marker boards for collaboration, and every seat will be equipped with power outlets and USB ports. We switched from projection to video wall screen displays and added microphones throughout the lecture halls to improve and update communication. An acoustic consultant took measurements of sound absorption to design proper acoustics. The overall design gives more space and seating to eliminate the previous bottleneck effect and allow for proper circulation.

We collaborated with Design Synergies and DiDonato Associates to rework and modernize learning environments in the Natural Science Complex on UB’s South Campus. Plans are complete, and construction will begin in summer of 2020.