UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State recently received a 2019 ACUI Facility Design Award of Excellence for the newly renovated Findlay Commons. The award was presented by the Association of College Unions International at its annual conference, held in March in Indianapolis.
WTW Architects, the firm that designed the renovated space, also received recognition at the conference.
Findlay Commons is part of East Food District on the University Park campus. The construction project included renovating about 55,000 square feet or 45 percent of the building, which was built in the mid-1960s and last renovated in the early 1990s.
Renovations, which updated dining options and expanded space for dining and socializing, were designed to better meet the needs of students. Improvements included the following features:
— A light-filled stair, with lounge space overlooking the residential quad.
— New dining venues on both floors.
— A two-story addition creating a welcoming new entry.
— Improved pedestrian traffic flow.
— Updated exterior that enhances views and improves energy efficiency.
Jim Richard, senior director of Enterprise Services for Housing and Food Services, who was instrumental in the design of East Food District, represented Penn State at the awards ceremony.
The Association of College Unions International is a nonprofit educational organization that brings together college union and student activities professionals from hundreds of schools in seven countries.