Department of English

The new home for the English and Creative Writing Departments, this 29,000 sf “addition” is more than three times the size of the historic house to which it is attached. Lead-coated-copper clad connectors step back between brick pavilions to preserve the integrity of the original house and reduce the scale of the project within a constricted site and neighborhood. The two halves are conceptually bridged across the alley by mirroring entry arcades and window bays. A total of 49 faculty offices and 18 teaching assistant offices are included in the building’s plan along with a “smart classroom” that utilizes the latest technology and flexible seating arrangements adaptable for traditional teaching methods. In keeping with Gertrude Stein’s quotation on the building, “And then there is using everything,” L | L + B achieved an integration of modern and historic elements into a harmonious whole.