Commercial Architecture June 2017 - 17

FEATURE

and dining precinct improvements. In larger perspective, the comple-

MULTIPURPOSE EXPERIENCES

tion of the facilities would mark the first step in Clemson Univ.'s re-

The vision for the core campus started to coalesce when the Stevens

development of its core campus, as envisioned in the university's

& Wilkinson's project team conceptualized the new housing spaces

2002 master plan.

to provide numerous residential unit types and community options,

An internal team from Stevens & Wilkinson's Columbia office, in
association with VMDO Architects, Charlottesville, VA, and Sasaki

retention.
Primary goals for the project included advanced coordination of

ga-structure to anchor the precinct on campus. Completed in 2016,

future projects outlined in the campus master plan, including the

the core-campus complex now provides 700 student beds and 1,200

creation of a facility to enable recruitment and retention of students

dining seats, and is the new home to the Calhoun Honors College

and achieving LEED Silver Certification.

and associated academic spaces. The project's result represents a pro-

With the popularity of multiuse spaces, Stevens & Wilkinson and

gressive setting, capturing and manifesting the best of what is known

its collaborative partners took a hard look at imaginative possibilities

as the "Clemson experience" for students.

for student dining facilities. The outcome resulted in a dining and

Comprising 286,000 sq. ft., with an estimated construction cost of
$83 million, the campus improvements meet growing demands for

dent population.
In its completion, the dining facilities offer choices across 300

Clemson Univ.'s goal of retaining more sophomore students on cam-

seats of retail dining and 900 seats of residential dining in a modern

pus. As one of the nation's top-20 public universities, the new pre-

capacity. Retail venues with extended hours, a delicatessen and grill,

cinct will enable the demolition and redevelopment of the school's

national coffee and chicken-sandwich chains, and a convenience

Harcombe Dining Hall and Student Union in subsequent phases.

store provide flexible options. Open for three meals daily, the new

to much more, including the design and development of quality cam-

Opposite page. Full-height glass windows were placed on the main and other levels for optimum views and to fill
the interior with natural light.

seating destination is inviting and satisfying to a majority of the stu-

housing and dining options. The new facility additionally supports

"Beyond square footage and new construction, the project aspired

Above. The new Clemson Univ.
core-campus housing was designed by
Columbia, SC, firm Stevens & Wilkinson and multiple project team partners
to include a wide variety of community rooms to provide opportunities for
student comfort and collaboration.
All Photos: Flashnick Visuals LLC

furthering the university's plan for student growth and on-campus

Associates, Watertown, ME, conceptualized an integrated me-

campus design

facility offers diverse selections of cuisine freshly prepared at open
cooking venues.

pus life for students and new forms of housing that support the uni-

"The character of the new, high-end facility offers a variety of

versity's desire for a multi-purpose, mixed-use center of living and

seating areas separated by custom millwork-style seating and partition

learning," said Ashby Gressette, AIA, president of Stevens & Wilkin-

screens," said Gressette. "Each retail dining venue has its own unique

son, South Carolina.

character and finishes that have been tied into the overall aesthetic of
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