Douglas Hall

(re)imagining a place for learning in times of crisis | newark, new jersey

kaveh samiei | spring 2022

architecture + design school is rigorous and demanding. students spend hours researching, designing, iterating, drawing, and modeling all in the same space. the quality of this space affects students’ mental and physical wellness, inspires them, and fosters lifetime connections.

a new studio hall at njit should be a teaching building, where students can gain a knowledge and understanding of architectural systems. it should inspire students by providing them with views of the surrounding skylines. it should offer students multiple areas to take respite and escape the rigor. it should cultivate interdisciplinary student interactions to create wide ranging professional and social networks.

douglas hall accomplishes all of these ideals by lifting the studio spaces up and uniting them through a central atrium. this atrium exposes the structure of the building and creates a network amongst the various design studios. each roofscape is accessible, offering varying views of njit, newark, and new york. the open courtyard provides relaxation and review areas, and connects to the existing weston green and weston gallery room.