Cedarville University

Many institutions have recently focused concentration on designing or remodeling facilities that support STEM career paths. As students gravitate toward these roles, they expect learning spaces that prepare them. Cedarville University, located in Cedarville, Ohio, was among the universities intent on supporting this need. In 2018, the university launched a civil engineering program. The addition of this study path joined their highly successful School of Engineering and Science as part of the school’s intent to broaden the engineering field by preparing professionals who bring excellence to their area. Civil engineers have long been considered game-changers for communities as they play a vital role in initiating strategic infrastructure solutions. With interaction and collaboration critical to a rigorous and thriving environment, CESO helped envision the design of a new civil engineering center positioned to be a hub for innovation.

Our multi-disciplinary teams across survey, civil engineering, architecture, and interior design implemented a fluid design process from the initial site design through the final section of materials, fixtures, and finishes. Each associate contributed a unique skill set to the project and was able to transition between the various stages of the project’s lifecycle to craft an interactive space that has become a hub for both formal education as well as spontaneous connections. The two-story, 20,806 square feet center is equipped with nine labs, two large classrooms, six faculty offices, and wing lounges, which provide students with an environment designed for the hands-on, kinesthetic-type of learning beneficial to civil engineering.