In 2017, Emerson Hall suffered extensive water damage, destroying much of the building’s interior. In response, IAA was commissioned to renovate select academic spaces.
Lecture Hall G36 originally included 146 fixed-seat desks and four accessible stations along with two unused storage units near the back of the room. Our team recognized the opportunity to accommodate more students by removing the storage, allowing for 37 additional seats, as well as five more accessible stations. Removing the storage spaces presented other benefits as well, including a more streamlined floor plan and enhanced acoustical performance. IAA’s design also included new patterned, felt wall panels, which further improve acoustics and add visual interest in the Missouri S&T colors. This vibrant feature is juxtaposed with ceramic wall tiling near baseboards to better withstand wear-and-tear. Throughout circulation aisles, carpet replaces existing sealed concrete floors to even further improve upon acoustic performance and thus the user experience.