Location: Thomas More University | Crestview Hills, Kentucky

Completion Date: August 2024

Project Size: 34,000 sf

Project Description

In late 2022 construction started on a new multi-functional academic center for Thomas More University in Kentucky. This 35,000 sf building will feature cross-programmed spaces such as the College of Business, a Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, an Institute for Ethical Leadership & Interdisciplinary Studies, and an Institute for Religious Liberty. To support these programs, a 500-seat auditorium provides necessary programming space for large audiences attending lectures, interfaith dialogues, and academic symposiums. This project embodies the outcomes of the deliberate and unique design process at MKC Architects - and our collaboration with Thomas More University and their partners. Once complete this building will be a symbol of innovation for the future of a university and the students that attend the Thomas More. 

Site Location

Alongside the goal of creating a haven for innovation, the building needs to engage an existing, detailed campus network. The building is located near the Thomas More Chapel toward the primary access to campus. As such, the design ties into campus pathways and access, while connecting symbolically to Catholicism. The siting of building allows for a strong camps connection to the existing campus corridor while simultaneously orienting itself towards Turkeyfoot Road. The building location will be the flagship development on this highly visible corner, leading the way for future development.

Design Principles

When analyzing historic church organizations, the Latin cross served not only a symbol of Christianity, but also formally as an orthogonal plan layout of efficiency. Formally, the Thomas More Center for Academics embodies this self-same conversation about axes. The bi-axial plan organization, when altered, creates additional opportunity for interstitial and overlapping spaces. As such, a distortion of axes allows for Connection, Relativity of Scale, and Interruption - more emblematic of this projects requirement of a complex building program of spaces.

Connection:

The fluid connection and circulation of three distinct programs allows them to act as individuals while also existing as a uniform program and network. This is accomplished through a circulatory system which meets the needs of these very separate programs while also connecting the three cores into one, with the use of the four story atrium space.

Auditorium – Low traffic

Innovation Space – High Traffic

Classroom/office – Medium Traffic

Relativity of Scale:

A coupling of small scale and large-scale moments. Due to the extreme difference in program the scale of the building is needing to be addressed at the level of the small and the level of the big. Understanding that the auditorium and student/faculty movement in the building will create different effects, relativity of size must be a forefront of the design and a leading decision factor. 

Large [auditorium & atrium]

Medium [classroom/office]

Small [office/study nook/conf. rooms] 

Interruption:

To achieve a diversity of spaces, these programs formally disrupt one another to enforce new ideas and create atypical learning environments, this will be accomplished through the overlap, the in between, and the voids that are created from these colliding forces.

The overlap - where two different programs are forced together

The in-between – the space created from inverting positive and negative

The void - A connecting atrium space

Spatial Development & Materiality:

These principals which stem from breaking the axes not only presents itself in the form but also the materiality of the building. One axis exhibits red brick, as a traditional building material, represents the connection to the campus architecture of Thomas More University. Glass and metal standing seam are on the opposing axis, which signifies modernity and overall sense of innovation and forward thinking.

Exterior Treatment

The building exterior has two distinct characteristics. The central atrium is designed to be a light-filled, glassy jewel. The activity taking place in the atrium allows for the character of light in this space to be brighter and changing throughout the day. In contrast to this glass central space, the components that wrap the atrium are designed to have a more solid expression. However, the spaces in these wings still require daylight and views. As such, the exterior retains in monolithic expression using windows blend with the black metal facade system. These are comprised of a linear opening in classrooms and offices.

This approach has a few effects. First, it provides shading and cuts down on glare. While classrooms and offices do require daylight glare can be problematic especially when viewing screens or projections. Second, it creates a more consistent exterior expression that ties together building elements without windows. Third, it is an opportunity to highlight the building in a new way at night versus the day. At night, when light is emanating from the building, the interior patterning of program highlights the building in an altogether different and unique visual expression.