SIUE’s athletic director sent a year-end message to the team who worked on the university’s recently completed athletic facilities.  Individuals who provided financial support, along with the coaches and administrative staff who spent time with the design team at Mackey Mitchell Architects were acknowledged. Two new private locker rooms for the WBB and MBB are available for the first time in SIUE’s history. The new facilities are just a part of the complete renovation taking place on the second floor of the Vadalabene Center and represent the client’s desire to create an impressive,  first-class, usable space for athletes.  Mackey Mitchell’s project team included  Marcus Adrian and Rachel Raterman.

Back in September,  Mackey Mitchell  engaged an international  AEC marketing expert to critique our presentation skills with training workshops and a day-long critique with tips on how to  improve our oral skills  and powerpoint presentations. As a result of those sessions, Mackey Mitchell is looking into forming a “Speaker’s Club” to practice our presentation skills among friendly colleagues.  Principal Jim Konrad who was a member of the Toastmaster’s Club for several years will present a “lunch and learn” program on February 23 titled “What I’ve Learned about Public Speaking” to share experiences and techniques that have made him a better speaker and presenter.  One tip from the Toastmasters Club  (which grew out of a club called Smedley Club Number 1 in 1924) to help boost confidence is to pretend audience members are clapping.

Last year Good Ideas for Cities invited creative St. Louis problem-solvers to tackle some of the city’s urban challenges and present their solutions at live events across the country.  On Thursday, March 8 at 7:00 pm, our own Stacey Wehe will lead a discussion focusing on government fragmentation and the lack of regionalism and how it hinders building a prosperous St. Louis region. Solutions will be presented by several different groups addressing various challenges. Urban leaders will join the group for a brief Q&A session along with Good Ideas for Cities editor Alissa Walker. The free event is open to the public and will be held at the Contemporary Art Museum. Drinks will be served after the program with more conversation on how to make “good ideas” a reality.

The ICE Awards honor Inspired & Creative Excellence in daylighting design.  Sponsored by Solatube, the award recognizes innovative design using the company’s daylighting products. The Downing University Center at Western Kentucky University was recently named a 2011 winner. Mackey Mitchell in collaboration with architect-of-record Ross Tarrant designed a renovation and expansion that will become the social heart of the campus. A dramatic interior atrium connects the second through fourth floors with a bold series of terraces and strategic gathering spaces. The sky-lit atrium provides a bright, comfortable space for student gatherings, celebrations, study, and relaxation.

The University of Alabama-Huntsville,  responding to its population growth and its transition from a commuter campus to a more residential one, has approved the design of a new student center. Working in collaboration with local architect-of-record Turner Batson Architects, Mackey Mitchell has designed a building that provides students with a much-anticipated “urban street experience.” Described by one trustee as having  “sizzle”  the center features game rooms, computer areas, meeting rooms, a campus bookstore and a large food service area. A small theater space with seating for 350, a coffee/snack bar, dance studio, and a copy center will occupy portions of the buidling.  A series of benchmarking trips conducted by UHA, along with eco-charettes and interactive student exercises were conducted by the design team to provide insight and inspiration.  

Metaphorically, the new student center unites the academic and research sides of the campus into a cohesive whole. The bridge component encourages student interaction and improves safety by providing a single location for crossing a busy street. Designed around the concept of celebrating community, this “one-stop-shop”  provides all the amenities for a rewarding campus experience. Mackey Mitchell’s  project team includes Gwynn Zivic, Jim Konrad, Clint Smith and Stacey Wehe.

After a three-year hiatus (you may have heard about the economy’s downturn) Mackey Mitchell is resuming its annual weekend office trip. All staff members may bring a guest on an “architectural weekend,” complete with tours, great food, and plenty of fun and camaraderie.  On March 30, the group will board a chartered bus to Columbus, Indiana. With a population of only 44,000, the city has been ranked 6th in the nation for architectural innovation and design by the American Institute of Architects, right behind the much larger cities of Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. 

Mackey Mitchell’s first stop will be Eero Saarinen’s famous Miller House featuring gardens and landscape design by Dan Kiley.  Among the trip highlights are a 2-hour guided architectural tour of Columbus which includes the I.M. Pei Library and the new Columbus Commons.  The firm has offered weekend architectural trips for most of the last twenty years.  The trips provide employees an enriching experience, reinforcing Mackey Mitchell’s culture of nurturing life-long learning and continued personal growth.

If he’s not making presentations, developing computer animations and illustrations, or working on design concepts for  student life projects across the country, Paul might be engaged in one of his favorite pastimes – painting.  Student housing expert Paul Wuennenberg has a rare mix of  “left-brain, right-brain” capabilities.  A talented painter and illustrator, he applies his thought processes to the computer as much as he does to painting.  Just a few days ago, Paul found himself in the mood to paint a mountain scene during a trip to Boulder, Colorado. His aunt once traced the family genealogy back to Wuennenberg, Germany, a name that means “beautiful hill.”  Maybe his artistic talents are rooted in his DNA.  You can see more of Paul’s paintings at  Morning Light Studio.

Today marks the official opening of the new University of Wisconsin’s Stout Memorial Student Center.  An article in the Leader Telegram touts the merits of the newly renovated center.  Mackey Mitchell, in association with Frisbie Architects, has transformed the 25 year old building to give it a more modern feel.  Improved dining, natural light, sustainable design features, improved traffic flow, and an emphasis on openness and visibility have created a “town square” concept resutling in greater visibility and interaction among all user groups. By using an open forum programming format, Mackey Mitchell was able to clarify what students, faculty and the greater community wanted in the new building.  It was clear they wanted more spontanious collaboration.  According to the university’s bookstore manager, the space is “bright and cheerful and allows us to better serve our students.”  MMA’s project team included Dan Mitchell, John Burse, Jim Konrad, Stacey Wehe, and Clint Smith.

The Lakeshore Housing project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is now about 50% complete.   According to project manager Andy Noll, it’s one of the highest-quality projects he’s ever worked on. “Miron Construction is doing a first-class job,” said Andy. The building will provide 426 new beds; a multi-purpose room; a brand-new food-service facility;  a market place with convenience stores; a satellite health clinic; and most importantly, a place to buy Babcock ice cream.  The design is centered around views to nearby Lake Mendota. On a recent site visit, Andy was impressed with one of the interior ceilings and the labryinth of stainless steel bars and steel exhaust ductwork in the kitchen/servery area. “Even though it will eventually be covered with drywall,” he said, “I was impressed by the  beauty of the studwork in the domed ceiling. Solid and well-built, this building should be around for a long time.”  Mackey Mitchell’s design team includes: Dan Mitchell, Paul Wuennenberg, Sara Koester, Gwynn Zivic, Greg Frankenfeld, Rachel Raterman, Javier Esteban, and Andy Noll.

Having designed student life facilities across the country, we’ve learned that special issues often arise related to doors. Student life expert Paul Wuennenberg, AIA, LEED AP, has an article in the most recent issue of College Planning & Management magazine which covers some of the isues that come up when specifying doors for a variety of projects. Doors can help establish a sense of place and provide a tactile response to those who enter. At the recently completed Mallinckrodt Center at Washington University in St. Louis, the doors of the Edison theater were animated with images of people, making them invisible by day, but opening up at night. Along with identity, acoustics, and safety issues, for many students something as simple as a door can become a blank canvas on which they can express themselves by  leaving notes or announcements, turning their door into a personal statement or identity.