Oklahoma State University Alumni Center
Stillwater, Oklahoma
The OSU Alumni Center occupies an important site at the heart of a cohesive red brick campus. Resurrecting the traditional “OSU mix” of red brick worked with appropriate massing and scale to help create a genuine sense of place in this critical location on the campus. The broad arcades add a unique and active feature to the campus vocabulary. Many buildings in the campus core were built in the 1920s and 1930s in what was termed a “modified Colonial” style. In order to respect the scale of “Old Central” (the oldest building on the campus which is adjacent to the site), the sizeable building program of the Alumni Center was broken into two brick volumes—one dedicated to large-scale entertainment functions and the other with smaller lounges, conference rooms, exhibit spaces and staff offices. An open lobby links the two volumes as well as focusing views through the building. The first floor of the 68,000-square-foot center accommodates the majority of the public activities, including a 400-seat banquet hall. A multimedia Board Room provides a fully equipped videoconference and presentation facility for 110.
Recognition: Austin AIA Merit Award; Brick in Architecture Bronze Award