William Rawn Associates, Architects
William Rawn Associates, Architects designs civic realm spaces where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to exchange ideas and share experiences. During his time as an architectural intern, Ben investigated various design choices, spatial strategies, building typologies, and adaptive reuse in the conceptual design phase. He worked closely with colleagues, associate firm teams based nationwide, and clients via presentation. Ben created and developed spatial graphics, diagrams, 3D renderings, and other presentation imaging. Selected clients include: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, and Tufts University, Medford, MA
After the Kellogg School of Management moved into a new building on campus, the Jacobs Center was left empty, giving Northwestern the opportunity to unite all of its Social Science departments in one space.
Due to its central location on campus in Evanston, IL, the Jacobs Center is the perfect space for students to gather. Creating an accessible social hub for all students on the ground floor was important throughout the design process.
How do you meet the needs of five different schools with varying identities and needs in one space?
Ben explored three different spatial strategies: TOWER, LAYER, and MIXED
The assumption (LEFT) was that the space could divide into community and office. WRA’s intervention began with the addition of a fusion space for academic resource. This added space could act as the bridge between academic and social.
Countless informational studies were taken, exploring event space needs, square footage divided by school, room type, and shareability.
Test fits helped to visualize square footage needs for every room type and department.
Ben’s sketch inspired the spatial intervention for the project: A new form intersecting the old, permeating into existing space.
Lastly, this diagram was created to communicate the intervention even further.
Part 1: Demolition of poorly used existing space. Part 2: Addition. Part 3: Addition Fusion