2018 MCHAP
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
KPMB Architects
Evanston, IL, USA
March 2017
PRIMARY AUTHOR
KPMB Architects
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
Thornton Tomasetti (structural) AEI Affiliated Engineers (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Eriksson Engineering (civil, geotechnical) Transsolar (energy, climate engineer) Hoerr Schaudt (landscape) HJ Kessler Associates (LEED) Tillotson Design Associates (lighting) Construction Cost Systems (cost) Threshold Acoustics (acoustic, audio visual) Soberman Engineering (elevator) Desman (parking, traffic) Brian Ballantyne Specifications (Specifications) Cini Little (waste management)
CLIENT
Dean Sally Blount, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
PHOTOGRAPHER
Nic Lehoux Bruce Damonte
OBJECTIVE
The solution is based on an invited ‘design thinking’ competition to conceive a global hub in which to teach future leaders valuable lessons about collaboration, boldness and flexibility. The winning conceptual proposal formed the basis for a ‘fresh start’ stakeholder engagement process to customize a purpose-built solution for Kellogg’s unique team-based pedagogy. Full architectural services through all phases were provided to design and deliver this five-storey, 415,000 s.f. state-of-the-art learning facility. The program accommodates 1200 Students, 200 faculty, 200 administrative team members, and is designed to host thought leaders from spheres of business and politics.
CONTEXT
Since it was founded in 1908, the Kellogg School of Management has been a pioneer in business education. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, north of Chicago, the new Global Hub creates a bookend to one of the world’s great centres of architecture and urbanism. With views on all sides, the design is connected to the Lake, Chicago Skyline, and Campus. The main entrance on the west creates direct lines of access from the campus side. The siting responds to the arc of an existing path and the edge of the east playing field.
PERFORMANCE
When the vision to design a new Global Hub for Kellogg’s School of Management was launched in 2010, the image of business was suffering in the wake of the Financial Crisis of 2008. The architecture of the Global Hub responds to the clear mandate to create a destination in which students, faculty and world leaders would gather for the purpose of repositioning business as a force for making the world a better place. It also reinforces this School’s belief in the power of continued investment in design excellence in our digital age. The specific characteristics of the architecture of the Global Hub form a manifesto for change. Pedagogical, natural and historic forces shaped the building – from Kellogg’s unique brand of teamwork to the shoreline of Lake Michigan, from the piazza of San Marco to the Chicago skyline. The contemporary design with its distinct curvilinear form, and seamlessly integrated network of interior gathering and collaboration spaces forms the foundational platform for transforming the future of business education.