Gaige Hall | 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence
Building owner and tenant: Rhode Island College
[caption id="attachment_324856" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
CONTINUED LEARNING: Lounges and collaborative work areas provide opportunities for informal learning to continue beyond the classroom.[/caption]
Architect: LLB Architects
Developer/General contractor: H.V. Collins
Cost: $17 million
[caption id="attachment_324858" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
CONNECTED SPACE: Glazing on the first-floor lounge connects the space to the outdoor patio and the quad beyond.[/caption]
Use: Gaige Hall was built in 1966 and faced a series of infrastructure issues that affected the learning environment, including lack of natural light and poor acoustics. LLB Architects undertook a total reorganization of departments and classrooms, creating integrated collaborative zones throughout the building. A small addition made a large impact by replacing the two-story center section with a three-story connector that features a double-height multipurpose room, as well as study lounges that benefit from a fully glazed façade.
[caption id="attachment_324857" align="aligncenter" width="880"]
COMMUNITY SPOT: An attractive outdoor gathering space connects visually with the indoor lounge on the first floor of Gaige Hall.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_324855" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
BEFORE[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_324859" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
BEFORE[/caption]
PHOTOS COURTESY RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE