With a growing undergraduate enrollment, Dillard is building a new academic building to serve both the full-time students who reside on campus as well as the lifelong learning and non-traditional students who live in the city and commute to campus. Clement & Wynn assisted the University in conducting the pre-design study, building program, and architectural competition.

A two-story, 30,000 SF facility is planned to house a variety of high-tech, instructional and conference spaces, faculty offices, student study areas, and building support spaces. All classrooms, student areas, and building support spaces are located on the first floor. Faculty offices and conference spaces are housed on the second floor. A 35-foot high, glass-enclosed atrium will connect the two floors.

The University wanted a facility designed and sited to compliment the surrounding buildings, open spaces and oak trees with a new plaza that connects to the existing student quadrangle that anchors the northern end of the campus. The program also called for flexible learning environments permitting a variety of teaching methods and active learning styles. Dillard chose to conduct a design competition to select the appropriate architect. Three architectural firms were invited to present their concepts to a representative group of the University community. A budget of approximately $5.5 million, including site development and utility relocations, has been negotiated with a general contractor.