Georgia Tech to Renovate, Add to, Historic Residence Halls

By Balazs Szekely, Associate Editor

Architect’s rendering of the project

The historic Glenn and Towers Residence Halls at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta will soon undergo renovation with Stevens & Wilkinson in charge of the operation, in association with VMDO Architects.

Founded in 1919, Stevens & Wilkinson is a full-service architecture, engineering and interior design firm based in Atlanta and Columbia, S.C. Simultaneously with the Glenn & Towers Residence Halls project, the company has also undertaken the comprehensive redesign of Clemson University’s Core Campus Housing Precinct in Clemson, S.C.

The three-year, 125,000-sq.-ft. Atlanta project encompasses 63,259 square feet of floor space and four stories at Glenn Hall; 53,116 square feet and three stories at Towers Hall; and a new 8,400-square-foot addition that will connect the two residences, fulfilling the original 1940 master plan. It will update mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and HVAC systems, as well as provide design services for updated student areas including restrooms, lounges, kitchens and residential units. Plans also call for making the facilities accessible to the disabled and providing new student amenities including the addition of laundry, exercise, meeting, study and lobby spaces to the program space between the existing buildings. Elevators will also be added to both existing buildings to provide accessible vertical circulation.  New dormers have been proposed on the quad side of the building to add seven new student residence rooms in each building with the rest of the attic containing study spaces, community toilets and lounge space.

Scheduled for completion in 2015, the renovation is targeted for LEED Gold certification.

Photo credits: Stevens & Wilkinson