Oakland University selects Stantec to lead $40 million expansion and renovation of core classroom building
Project will allow University to address a critical shortage of classroom space
08/01/2019 ROCHESTER, MI TSX,NYSE:STN
Oakland University, a public university in Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills, Michigan, has selected architecture and design firm Stantec to provide comprehensive design and engineering services for the $40 million expansion and renovation of South Foundation Hall. One of the oldest buildings on the main campus, the building is home to core classrooms for incoming students.
As part of the project, the existing 55,000-square-foot building, built in 1959, will be renovated to upgrade and/or replace all mechanical and electrical systems, information technology, and audio-visual systems. An addition will be built to further transform the building into a 21st century learning environment with technology-centered classroom and collaboration spaces.
“The transformation of South Foundation Hall will not only address current and projected academic space shortage but will also revamp it from a traditional tablet-armchair classroom building into a multidisciplinary active learning environment adaptable to student needs,” said Scott Kunselman, Chief Operating Officer, Oakland University. “This is an important project that will vastly improve the experience for both our students and our faculty.”
Stantec’s scope of services includes staging analysis, building programming, building and systems design, construction documentation, bidding support, and construction administration, with construction set to begin in spring 2020 and substantial completion in fall 2022.
“Stantec is delighted to work with Oakland University again, this time to transform a learning facility to offer the same unparalleled experience students receive every day from their instructors,” said Janice Suchan, Senior Principal, Stantec. “As one of the most used classroom buildings on campus, South Foundation Hall serves as a front door to the university and this project will reinvigorate the landscape and help inform and shape future development according to the campus master plan.”
Stantec’s Berkley, Michigan office has been a trusted partner with nearly every public college and university in Michigan and has worked on previous projects at Oakland University, including the renovation and expansion of Oakland Center, the campus student center; construction of Pawley Hall, which houses the School of Education and Human Services; and interior design services for O’Dowd Hall, home to several large lecture halls and the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.
Stantec in Education Design
Stantec is ranked among the nation’s leading design firms for education projects. Building Design + Construction magazine recently named Stantec the No. 1 Architecture/Engineering firm in the United States for the second consecutive year. Stantec was also ranked in the top 10 for the University Sector and No. 1 in K-12 education design by the same leading industry publication.
Stantec has been designing campus environments for more than 62 years and has more than 450 education clients. Special areas of focus include student housing, science and technology facilities, academic medical centers, student centers and dining facilities, academic facilities, libraries, and campus planning. To learn more, visit: www.stantec.com/en/markets/education
About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.
We care about the communities we serve—because they're our communities too. This allows us to assess what's needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what's never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.
We're designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.
Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN.
About Oakland University
Oakland University is a doctoral, research university located on 1,443 acres of scenic land in the cities of Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills in Oakland County, Michigan. The University has 143 bachelor's degree programs and 130 graduate degree and certificate programs. Oakland is a nationally recognized public university with nearly 20,000 students. Academics include the School of Music, Theatre and Dance and programs within the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Education and Human Services, School of Engineering and Computer Science, School of Health Sciences, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and School of Nursing.
Media Contact
Laura Krinke
Stantec Media Relations
Ph (612) 712-2072
laura.krinke@stantec.com