NCSU - Talley Student Union Renovation and Expansion, Invited Competition

The Talley Student Center at North Carolina State University was a one-day, invited design charrette competition.  The Freelon Group and Einhorn Yaffee Prescott (EYP) collaborated on a design proposal to renovate and expand the 330,000 Sq. Ft. building. Originally built in the 1970’s, the competition called for a comprehensive renovation and expansion of the outdated facility.  The design challenge also required coordination with a number of ongoing master plan initiatives, including a pedestrian bridge to link one side of campus with another across an existing railroad line.  

New student lounge and recreational areas, food service and retail venues, and assembly spaces were planned for in addition to office space for student organizations and the student union administrative offices.  Also included was the Gregg Museum of Art and Design and the 800-seat Stewart Theater that was to remain intact due to its size and complexity.  

The Freelon/EYP design approach involved repositioning the Talley Student Center, a holistic planning and design strategy that goes far beyond conventional building renovation strategies.  In addition to improving the building’s appearance and technical performance, this expanded approach sought to optimize the mixture of uses in the building, the building area allotted to each and the relationships of space within the building.  By considering the building within the broader university student culture and community, the design organized the program in a way that celebrated community while nurturing diversity.  

The final design proposal involved two main building volumes loosely connected by a common “hearth” and surrounding a large open courtyard.  The open courtyard welcomes students from the primary pedestrian approach, inviting them into the building at any number of locations.  In contrast to the existing building, the new student center design is very open, utilizing a sophisticated building envelop that allows generous amounts of daylight in while maintaining high standards for energy conservation. 

Design Architect: Freelon
Associate Architect: EYP