Gregory J. Grappone Humanities Institute

Adaptive reuse at the heart of campus

Saint Anselm College asked our team to explore how the former campus central heating plant might serve as the new home for the college’s Gregory J. Grappone Humanities Institute. The prominent location between Alumni Hall—the college’s original building—and the college’s new welcome center suggested the opportunity to highlight both a charming historic building and the importance of the humanities to the institution.

We worked with Saint Anselm leadership and faculty to create a program, conceptual design, and budget to assess the feasibility of repurposing the building, and developed renderings to aid in fundraising. The existing elevated level and cavernous basement below would transform into technology-enhanced flexible classrooms as well professional offices and collaborative community space. The new site design and entrance are arranged to highlight the brick chimney and graceful windows of the original building.