Brown University: Building on Distinction

Sayles Hall Auditorium

Sayles Hall Auditorium

Presented by: Lichen Grewer, Director of Campus Planning, Brown University | Craig Barton, University Architect, Brown University | Michael Nieminen, Principal, Perkins Eastman. | Michael Guglielmo, VP Facilities and Campus Operations, Brown University

Sayles Hall Auditorium

Presented by: Frances Halsband, Principal, Perkins Eastman

Sayles Hall Auditorium

In the past decade, Brown has completed a number of projects aligned with the strategic plan, “Building on Distinction”, which increased the University’s research capacity, expanded curricular programming, and enhanced the residential opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students on its historic College Hill campus. The work on this campus has been to utilize a strategy of infill and steward the existing fabric. In the conference’s morning session we will examine through a plenary panel presentations and tours of recent projects, the history of Brown’s campus planning strategies and the challenges and opportunities of building within the context of the existing campus.

Project Presentations 

Engineering Resource Center – Kieran Timberlake
Wellness Center and Residence Hall – William Rawn Architects
College Walk – Frances Halsband
Churchill House – Marble Fairbanks Architects
Lindemann Performing Arts Center – REX
Brook Street Residence Halls – TenBerke

South Street Landing Multipurpose Room

In the past decade, Brown has completed a number of projects aligned with the strategic plan, “Building on Distinction”, which increased the University’s research capacity, expanded curricular programming, and enhanced the residential opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students on its historic College Hill campus. As we will discuss in the morning session, several projects were sited utilizing a strategy of infill and stewardship on the historic College Hill campus. However, the significant increase in research and the larger scale sites and buildings which can accommodate contemporary research and curricular needs has pushed Brown to look beyond the historic College Hill campus.

Since the early 2000’s, Brown has strategically expanded its footprint into the Jewelry District, an emerging mixed-use neighborhood at the base of College Hill, across the Providence River. A former industrial area which most recently housed much of the city’s jewelry manufacturing, the District, catalyzed by the relocation of Interstate 195, provides opportunities for larger projects that can meet Brown’s current and future needs as well as goals established by government and community groups. In contrast to the Hill, the Jewelry District offers the possibility for a different campus development model, where the University collaborates with government, neighborhood groups and the development community to curate a mixed-use space that supports University endeavors alongside the city’s vision for a vibrant innovation hub and residential neighborhood.

In the conference’s afternoon session we will examine through a plenary panel presentations and tours of recent projects, new models of Brown’s campus planning strategies and the challenges and opportunities of collaborating with others to create a vibrant, mixed use neighborhood.

1:40PM-2:10PM: Presentations Goals & Strategy

• Frances Halsband, Principal, Kliment Halsband Architects, a Perkins Eastman Studio 
• Institutional Vision – Russell Carey, Executive Vice President, Planning and Policy, Brown University
• Brown Real Estate – John Luipold, Vice President for Business Affairs, Brown University

2:10PM – 3:10PM: Roundtable Discussion

Moderated by:  Al Dahlberg, Associate Vice President, Government & Community Relations, Brown University

•   195 District goals  – Caroline Skuncik, Executive Director, 195 District | Tim Love, Founding Principal, Utile, Inc.
•    Development Strategies – Adam Gross, Principal, ASG
•    Brown Campus Life, Dana Hamdan, Associate Vice President for Administration, Brown University
•    City of Providence, Comp Plan goals and strategy – Joe Mulligan, Director of Planning and Development, City of Providence

3:10PM – 3:20PM: Break

3:20PM – 4:00PM: Project Presentations

• Introduction: Paul Dietel, AVP for Planning Design & Construction, Brown University 
• Danoff Laboratories – TenBerke/Ballinger
• Dyer Warf