"With the university’s mission emphasizing excellence in teaching, scholarship and a vision toward the future, this project provides state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories that will serve Radford University well for many years to come"
RADFORD, Va. (PRWEB) March 10, 2020
Radford University celebrated the grand reopening of Reed Hall and Curie Hall following a three-year, $33 million renovation. CannonDesign was the prime architect and laboratory planner, while Waller, Todd & Sadler, a Woolpert Company, provided architecture and interior design services for the project. Planning began in 2016 and incorporated 94,840 square feet of classrooms, labs, offices, collaborative space and research facilities.
Reed Hall, constructed in 1939, and Curie Hall, built in 1971, were transformed to serve the current and future needs of faculty and students at the Artis College of Science and Technology. At the ribbon-cutting event, Radford University President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., said he looks forward to the expanded possibilities for collaboration this renovation brings.
“I cannot wait to see the amazing discoveries that will be made by our faculty and students in this state-of-the-art facility, designed for learning and research,” said Hemphill, adding that this collaboration is “a defining characteristic for Radford University and the Highlander experience.”
The facility supports several university science departments and includes an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Center, a Geohazards and Unmanned Systems Research Center, a Geology Maker Lab, a Tree Ring Lab, GIS Center, a Virtual Reality Lab, the Artis Cybersecurity Training and Education Lab, a greenhouse and dedicated housing for the school’s Scanning Tunnel Microscope.
Woolpert Architect and Practice Leader Stelios Xystros said the buildings were redesigned to support the modern needs of students and the Artis College's evolving curriculum.
“Universities have to plan for the next step in education and provide the environment that will best promote and further students’ needs. This is especially true in the rapidly developing fields of science and technology,” Xystros said. “Radford has made an extremely sound investment in the school and its students, who now have the opportunity to help move the world forward. We are honored to support the vision of Radford and the university community that has been overwhelmingly supportive of this project.”
CannonDesign Architect and Vice President Stephen Stinnette remarked on how the renovated facility reflects on the past, while looking toward the future.
“This 21st-century academic science facility restores the historic Reed Hall as the primary entrance to the Artis College of Science and Technology, while providing modern, light-filled collaboration space inserted seamlessly into the void between the two buildings,” Stinnette said. “With the university’s mission emphasizing excellence in teaching, scholarship and a vision toward the future, this project provides state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories that will serve Radford University well for many years to come.”
About Waller, Todd & Sadler, a Woolpert Company
Waller, Todd & Sadler, a Woolpert Company, offers architecture, planning, interior design and LEED services to both public and private sector clients. It is a testimony to the firm’s professional abilities and commitment to customer service that approximately 90 percent of Waller, Todd & Sadler’s work is from repeat clients. Woolpert is the fastest-growing architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm in the country and is ranked 93rd among ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms. For over 100 years and 30 offices in North America, the firm serves federal, state and local governments; private and public companies and universities; energy and transportation departments; and the U.S. Armed Forces. For more information, visit woolpert.com.
About CannonDesign
CannonDesign is an integrated design firm that leverages the heart, passion and intelligence of our more than 1,000 creative thinkers to develop solutions for some of the greatest challenges facing our clients and society. Whether designing for equity in education, accessible healthcare, inclusive communities, new scientific discoveries or the “next big idea” in business, we partner with organizations to help them improve human life. Our ability to help organizations realize life-centered outcomes is one of the reasons Fast Company named us a World Changing Company and one of the most innovative design firms in the world. For more information, please visit http://www.cannondesign.com.