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An evolution is taking place to redefine the role that classrooms and academic centers play in education. Moving past classrooms as lecture platforms, facilities are now places where students partner with teachers in the learning process.
BWBR has designed for educational clients and projects since the firm was established 100 years ago. We develop more than places for students to attend classes; we develop centers that support the intellectual, social, and psychological needs of growing minds. Done right, these spaces inspire students to explore ideas, invite collaborative learning, and turn curiosity into discoveries.
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MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR SPACE
Institutions today are challenged to do more with less. BWBR’s team helps you realize the full value of your existing buildings and understand all of your renovation and repurposing options. Our innovative, problem-solving approach makes the highest and best use of what you have, relying on utilization data to deeply understand your space usage and needs.
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SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Performance design and sustainability are integral parts of BWBR’s design process, whether it is optimizing the project’s use of energy and water resources, reducing the operational and embodied carbon footprint, achieving industry recognized sustainability standards, or meeting financial and wellbeing goals.
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LEARNING AND LIVING ENVIRONMENTS
Academic institutions must be prepared to meet the evolving needs of today’s students. This includes balancing synchronous, asynchronous, and remote learning, and offering hands-on learning experiences through community engagement, makerspaces, simulation, and 3D visualization.
SCIENCE AND LAB PLANNING
Labs were the original active learning classrooms and continue to be hubs of hands-on learning where students can interact with field samples, work safely with hazardous chemicals, or operate highly specialized instrumentation.
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EVERY SPACE IS A LEARNING SPACE
BWBR believes that every space on campus is an opportunity for learning, growth, and community-building. These interactions help students make the most of every moment on campus and maximize every opportunity for growth.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
BWBR is dedicated to addressing the complexities of designing for all people via a process that keeps wellness, equity, and mental health support at the forefront of design decisions. We believe design is best when it engages diverse perspectives, removes obstacles, leverages its ability to bring people together, and creates spaces that build better communities.
+Projects
Offsite Collections Facility
University of Minnesota
The new Offsite Collections Facility will create sufficient long-term storage capacity for the University of Minnesota’s unique and scarcely held...
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Fraternity and Sorority Life Housing
University of Nebraska at Kearney
To upgrade the campus’s living and learning fraternity and sorority communities, the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) worked with...
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Richard D. Offerdahl ’65 Engineering Complex
North Dakota State University
Reflecting NDSU’s deep commitment to placing students and learning at the center of university life, the new Richard Offerdahl ’65...
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Baseball Clubhouse
St. John’s University
The new Saint John’s University baseball clubhouse provides the team with on-field facilities, enhancing the student athlete experience with lockers,...
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Mendel Hall Science Facility Renovation
St. Catherine University
Mendel Hall has housed the sciences at St. Catherine University for nearly a century, providing an essential learning space for...
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Admissions Center Renovation
Saint John's University
Housing offices for admissions, the Quadrangle building is a hub for a variety of university functions and has stood on...
06Related Perspectives
April 24, 2024
Beyond the Basics: How Today’s Student Housing is Evolving to Meet New Expectations
The days of uninspired dorm rooms with little more than a bed and a communal bathroom down the hall are long gone.
July 22, 2024
Anatomy of a Simulation Space: Designing for the Future of Healthcare Training
Simulation spaces are high-tech, realistic environments designed to train both students preparing for careers in healthcare and medical professionals learning new skills.
August 11, 2023
Valuing History, Incorporating Modern Sustainability
The built environment is accountable for a substantial 40% of annual global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
June 8, 2021
Redefining the Special Education Environment
Back in 2013, Hanna Kuehl, CID, LEED AP, Steve Berg, AIA, and the team at BWBR were given a brand-new...
February 14, 2022
Post-Pandemic Lessons: Redefining the Student-Centered Learning Environment in Higher Education
Although we have seen many challenges over the past 23 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has also revealed opportunities to re-envision how and where we teach and learn.
October 12, 2020
Every Space is a Learning Space
Learning space design, approached from a holistic perspective, takes into account the spectrum of learning activities and the variety of...