Gretchen Kelly

Chalmers Cafe

Location: Lawrence Kansas

Studio: Arch 509: Design-Build

Professor: Chad Kraus

Project Budget: $150,000

Type: Renovation, Higher Education

Award:

American Architecture Prize Interior Design - Student Category

International Green Interior Awards - Student category

2017 AIA Kansas Student Design Award

Project Scope: The Dirt Works Studio renovated a 6,000 square-foot space in Chalmers Hall. Formerly located in this slice of space were a cramped coffee kiosk and a small, dimly lit seating area - adjacent to an important but under utilized gallery, a multi-purpose classroom, and a windowless conference room. Due to the favorable location, the studio seized upon an opportunity to transform this area into a collaborative, dynamic, and sensorial environment. With one and a half semesters, the design-build studio set out to breath new life into the heart of Chalmers Hall.