Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler

Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Exterior Photography, Windows, FacadeCapitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Image 3 of 18Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Exterior Photography, Windows, FacadeCapitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Interior Photography, Stairs, FacadeCapitol Federal Hall / Gensler - More Images+ 13

  • Design Team: David Broz, Brian Vitale, Todd Heiser, Meghan Webster, Lindsey Feola, John Natale, Geoffrey Diamond, Rachel Sears, Linda Chavez
  • Architecture Of Record Project Team: Kevin Harden, Dan Nenonen, Kevin Wineinger.
  • City: Lawrence
  • Country: United States
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Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Exterior Photography, Facade, Windows
© Garrett Rowland

Text description provided by the architects. Incubation by Design 

In a marked shift from traditional academic design, the school’s interiors are more closely related to academic incubators, co-working spaces and start-up offices than they are to typical classrooms, student unions, libraries, or laboratories. The design offers students a glimpse of where they could go after they make the leap from campus to workplace. 

Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Image 3 of 18
© Garrett Rowland

Louis Pasteur’s quote, “Chance favors the prepared mind,” served as inspiration to the design team. The team designed flexible interior spaces that offer cues to people using them, to motivate people to connect in new ways. The design engages students by inviting authorship and offering students choice and control over where and how they learn. 

Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Image 15 of 18
Plan 1

Designers realized that students and faculty had to see each other while going about their daily routines to promote new kinds of interactions. To that end, Gensler designers crafted sight lines to connect spaces that were previously isolated: faculty workspaces and student classrooms. Staggered floors and openings further drive a sense of awareness and continued connectivity. 

Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Handrail
© Garrett Rowland
Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Image 16 of 18
Plan 2
Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Interior Photography
© Garrett Rowland

Rock Chalk Red Roofs 

A signature feature of KU’s campus buildings are their iconic hitched red roofs. As a nod to the campus’ storied history, Capitol Federal Hall’s new auditorium features a “Red Green Roof.” Using a 60/40 mix of red to green sedum, the environmentally friendly surface compliments and visually connects with the red roofs across KU’s campus. 

Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Interior Photography, Facade, Windows
© Garrett Rowland

Located at the heart of KU’s campus within sight of Allen Fieldhouse, home to KU’s legendary Jayhawks Basketball, Capitol Federal Hall aligns itself with high performing institutions and acts as a dynamic gateway for students, alumni, faculty and visitors alike. The building’s central location positions it to connect KU’s older campus on the north and east to its newer campus on the south and west. Capitol Federal Hall is intended to be a building for the entire campus, not just for those in the School of Business. 

Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Interior Photography, Stairs, Facade
© Garrett Rowland

Looking to mimic the hilly topography of the campus, the building’s “Social Steps” allow students to see and be seen, again encouraging the chance encounters that were at the core of the design of Capitol Federal Hall. Gensler collaborated with students from the School of Architecture, Design & Planning to design, manufacture, and install bench/work platforms on the steps. 

Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Exterior Photography, Windows, Facade
© Garrett Rowland

Alumni Integration 

Through donor embracement and mentor dependency, KU’s School of Business seeks to integrate its current students with alumni, recruiters, companies, and visitors. By creating an environment where professionals can feel comfortable, Capitol Federal Hall achieves the integration of these key stakeholders, encouraging alumni mentorship of current students. 

Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Chair, Lighting
© Garrett Rowland

A sponsored Jumbotron located in the building’s central atrium allows the space to become customizable. 

Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler - Exterior Photography, Windows, Facade
© Garrett Rowland

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Project location

Address:Lawrence, KS, USA

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
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Cite: "Capitol Federal Hall / Gensler" 30 Sep 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/796333/capitol-federal-hall-gensler> ISSN 0719-8884

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