The USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of USC, home to more than 10,000 undergraduate students and over 1000 post-graduates seeking doctoral degrees. While the College has sufficient academic space, it lacks a “home” for students and faculty to come together both formally and informally. As part of our ongoing relationship with USC, we conducted a study of the feasibility of converting the university’s long antiquated Physical Education building into a new commons. One of the most notable design features is the concept of transforming the existing indoor pool into a soaring double-height central lounge/study space around which other functions are located. The design also includes the conversion of an existing inner courtyard into an event space, enclosing it with a transparent roof, allowing daylight to fill the space much as it does today. Finally, the concept captures unused rooftop space, adding a large conference room and terrace that would provide users with views to the campus.

Project Data

Complete
81,1000 sf existing; 104,690 sf proposed

Program & Highlights

Double-height commons space
Courtyard/event space
Multipurpose athletic spaces
Office suites for student services
Rooftop conference space & terrace
Physical Education department

Collaborators

Structural Engineer: Saiful/Bouquet, Inc.
MEP: IBE Consulting Engineers