Morris Family Multicultural Student Center
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS
Status
Type
Size
Cost
Completed 2020
Education, Addition and Renovation
13,000 SF
$6,000,000
Students, faculty and staff come together for reflection, education and action at this new multicultural center, located in the heart of campus. Kansas State University’s more than 30 multicultural organizations, serving around 4,000 students, will have a home on campus where they can meet and invite their peers to be immersed in cultural experiences. This new facility brings an urban feel to the exiting campus fabric, while staying true to the native Kansas materials already established. The multicultural center encourages pedestrian interaction, creating a natural pathway from the rest of campus.
As part of this project, numerous sites were reviewed and carefully compared. Logistics for this project included coordinating with site utilities, connections to existing Student Union, and ADA access and emergency egress. Like threading a needle, this project required careful consideration of it's adjacency and visual connections, all which informed the sculptural form and perspective views to and from the building. It sits between several existing structures, access roads, and is at a nexus of pedestrian pathways. Considering the very limited footprint and verticality, this project created a dynamic and highly visible and accessible home for the multicultural center that no other site could offer.
