Central Michigan University’s College of Education and Human Services / SHW Group

Architects: SHW Group
Location: Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
Principal-in-Charge: Janice Suchan
Project Manager: Jen Durham
Principal Designer; Tod Stevens
Programmer/Planner: Dave Rose
Project Architect: Mickey Walsh
Mechanical Engineer: Rich Corona
Electrical Engineer: Jeff Walenciak
Structural Engineer: Tom Baier
Landscape Architect: Beckett and Raeder
Civil Engineering: Wilcox Professional Services
Technology: The Sextant Group
Associate Engineer: ARUP
Project area: 146,000 sqm
Project year: 2009
Photographs: Justin Maconochie

Central Michigan University’s College of Education and Human Services program grew from relatively modest beginnings to a nationally recognized doctoral and research-intensive institution.

The College outgrew antiquated facilities and wanted a new building to enhance its ability to meet the learning needs of its students, the instructional needs of its faculty, and the functional needs of its supporting staff.

SHW Group, one of the nation’s largest educational architecture and engineering firms, was chosen to handle full architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering services.

The design process called for up-to-date instructional spaces, classrooms, labs, a child development center, as well as staff, faculty, and departmental offices. SHW Group held full-day visioning sessions, followed by a series of leadership and user group meetings to assure the facility met the needs of all user groups. Completed in July 2009, the resulting facility harmonizes with the existing campus while adding a more contemporary articulation for this prestigious program.