Our Work / educational
University of Mississippi
Lamar Hall at Ole Miss
Oxford, Mississippi
Built on the Grove – the sacred heart of the Ole Miss campus – in the 1970’s, Lamar Hall served as the residence of the Law School until 2012. Renovation of this modern structure – which is quite different in design from the predominant Greek Revival Style buildings on campus – presented a unique challenge along with several significant opportunities.
Background: By 2010, Ole Miss was experiencing an 8% increase in enrollment each year generating pressing demand for additional classroom space. With a new Law School nearing completion, the 5-story, 110,700 sq ft Lamar Hall building was repurposed and its interior completely redesigned to meet this rapidly emerging demand for teaching space.
Further challenges included poor illumination, an inadequate vertical transportation system and a very unusual building interior which made way-finding confusing for users. The demand for classroom space made it necessary for some spaces to remain in service as other areas of the building were renovated. The total renovation was accomplished in multiple phases under 3 separate prime contracts.
New Life: The main entrance and the Grove entrance are at different levels, that are actually two floors apart. The formerly confusing entrance areas were remedied by successfully revisioning the main interior spaces of arrival. The reconstructed interior has two atriums below and above each other, connected by an illuminated interior stair in a glass crystal enclosure. This central stair allows users to be quickly oriented in this large building. In order to provide comfortable, user friendly student spaces, the atria include a convenience store/coffee shop, large screen TV’s and student study areas.
Lamar Hall is now a shared facility used by multiple academic departments. It contains a total of 28 classrooms, (8 of which are large stepped floor rooms) 3 archeology labs, The William Winter Institute and The Writing Center. The very unique Writing Center was envisioned by faculty and designed to help promote creative thinking by students working to improve their writing skills. The Writing Center is a fine architectural example of ways that “thinking outside of the box” or more appropriately “re-thinking the box” can result in innovative learning spaces that both foster and support student imagination, creativity, and the pursuit of academic excellence.
According to University Administration, classrooms in the completely renovated and refreshed Lamar Hall are now in greater demand by the teaching faculty than those of any other building on campus.
Educational 
University of Mississippi
UM Student Union
Oxford, Mississippi
The project involves total renovation of the existing structure and extensive addition of new space. The functional requirements of the program are balanced between utilization of the existing structure and the massing of the addition. The existing atrium is preserved and visually connected to new two story dining spaces in the addition.
Date of Completion: 2018
Educational 
University of Mississippi
Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts
Oxford, Mississippi
The multi-event theater has a 1,250 seat main hall and a 3,000 square foot rehearsal hall, with a full compliment of 'back of the house' support. In addition, the facility has a 2,800 square foot rehearsal/reception ball room adjacent to the main hall.
JV with Dale & Associates
Date of Completion: 2002
Awards
2003 ASID South Central Region Design Award
2003 MS ABC Merit Award
Educational 
University of Mississippi
UM Housing
Oxford, Mississippi
Three new residence halls consisting of roughly 80,000 square feet each and providing 865 beds meet the needs of a growing student body.
JV with Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons
Date of Completion: 2012
Educational 
University of Mississippi
John D. Williams Library
Oxford, Mississippi
The renovated building contains Administrative and Technical Service functions, while the addition is comprised of new stack space, generous reading rooms, and a new entry. Phasing of the project allowed the library to continue being used during construction.
With Canizaro Trigiani Architects
84,000 SF Addition
Date of Completion: 1996
Educational 
University of Mississippi
UM School of Law
Oxford, Mississippi
LEED Gold
The new School of Law building is a three-story, concrete frame, brick-clad structure located on the west side of the campus. The facility provides for the development of high-quality teaching environments, integration and leveraging of technology, accommodation of the evolving pedagogy within the academic program and enhancement of the interaction and interdependence of the law school community.
Date of Completion: 2010
Educational 
University of Mississippi
Residential Colleges
Oxford, Mississippi
The Residential Colleges offer a new housing model providing its residents a membership in a college community blending living into the experience of learning and social development. In this community, its residents will dine together, study together and govern themselves, all under the support and leadership of a resident faculty fellow. Developed in two phases, the Colleges are designed around a central courtyard which provides for social events as well as provide security for its residents. All buildings are four stories with a lower level for common functions and more private events. Predominantly double occupancy suites are centered around common living/lounge areas.
JV with Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons
UM Residential Colleges North = 117,482 SF
Date of Completion: 2010
Educational 
University of Mississippi
Conner Hall Addition and Renovation
Oxford, Mississippi
Conner Hall houses the instructional support and administrative spaces for the School of Business Administration and the School of Accountancy with the capacity to serve 1200 students per class session.
39,538 SF - Renovation
Date of Completion: 1998
Awards
2003 MS AIA Honor Citation Award
Educational 
