Students take Marvin Hall addition into own hands

Photo by Richard Gwin

Studio 804 has been working on an addition to Marvin Hall on the KU campus since last fall. Dubbed "The Forum," the addition should be open for business later this year.

Photo by Richard Gwin

From left, architecture graduate students Renee Brune, 25, and Christina Harwood, 23, screw pedestals to flooring inside the new Marvin Hall addition.

The people, places and projects that energize Kansas University, plus tips for newcomers to campus. --- List of all stories: ljworld.com/kuedition2014 Green Edition: ljw.bz/1p2iVTG More

The Kansas University School of Architecture, Design and Planning might never have had a lecture hall of its own if the schools students had not built it themselves.

John Gaunt, dean of the school and a professor of architecture, said the finances for an addition to Marvin Hall might never have worked out without the schools Studio 804 program, a yearlong design-and-build course.

Costs for the $2 million building would have been nearly double if the school had sought an outside contractor, Gaunt said. At the same time, it took several years for the studio to build up its reputation and credibility across the university and the state, both of which had to approve the project.

It required a kind of planetary alignment, Gaunt said.

The addition, dubbed The Forum, will house a 120-seat auditorium and a commons area that will overlay the schools previous jury room for viewing projects. With the main construction wrapping up in the late summer, The Forum could start holding some classes later in the fall semester.

Originally posted here:
Students take Marvin Hall addition into own hands