At Morriss Hall, the renovation of the ground floor of a dormitory removed all internal walls from the lobby, “Fireside Lounge,” and Game Room, including two old fireplaces, to provide a contiguous open space. The transformed space includes a new glass vestibule, a double-sided, functional, gas fireplace, a re-imagined game room with built-in wood bench, etched mirror wall, and an enlarged Fireside Lounge for studying. A new restroom was provided, in addition to remodeling the existing restroom.

Light-bathed columns lift up the new ceiling and illuminate the structural armature of a re-imagined student-centered game, lounge, and study space. Columns are wrapped in high-impact drywall, rounded corners and a level 5 finish. The ceiling terminates shy of column faces, allowing a light fixture on each side of every column, to wash each column’s face.

The transformed Fireside Lounge includes a variety of lounge and study seating areas. Glazing beyond looks out on a prominent campus pedestrian walkway and Morriss Arch. Plank acoustical tile ceilings stop shy of gently-rounded column enclosures, to provide space for up-lighting.

The re-imagined game room includes both pool and ping-pong tables, and a lounge area with television. A variety of seating options is provided to include high top tables at windows and a fixed bench at the masonry wall. The masonry wall was covered with reverse etched mirror glass. New piers at this wall are created to match the structural rhythm of the space and conceal relocated roof drains from above.