The Challenge:
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology – Griscom Education Center, home of the Architectural Technology program as well as seven others, was the original Lancaster Osteopathic Hospital. The nonprofit college took the most economical approach to convert hospital rooms into spaces for learning and student engagement. Unfortunately, many of the functional, aesthetical, and occupant challenges of a building dating back to the early 1900s persisted. These included low standard acoustical ceilings, restricted access to the plenum, opportunities for improved acoustics and air quality, and varied lighting conditions. In addition, the overall look and feel of the spaces remained “aesthetically sterile,” providing a less-than-inspiring environment for students pursuing careers based in creativity, modernity, and innovation.
Tedd Williams, Architectural Technology Educator at Thaddeus Stevens College, set out to make renovations to spaces for his program that would provide the ideal pilot project for the rest of the campus and create unique learning experiences for his students.
“When visiting local architectural firms, it always left my students in awe of how strong designs and thoughtful office spaces could energize and inspire people’s work,” said Williams. “You could feel some of that energy dissipate upon their return to our program’s outdated classrooms. My goal was to give them on campus that same motivation and excitement they experienced in professional offices.”
The Solution:
The success of the Thaddeus Stevens College project stems from groups with a shared purpose coming together to create dynamic, healthier spaces and excite the next generation of professionals about ways they can impact their communities. Williams connected with Armstrong during a student tour of its Lancaster headquarters. Given that many of their interns as well as employees came from Thaddeus Stevens College, Armstrong appreciated the importance of Williams’ mission and understood the difference it could make in the educational experience.
“We decided to take the project one step further by making it a learning experience for the students,” said Jim Kelley, Director of Project Execution at Armstrong, and Thaddeus Stevens College alum. “It really was a no-brainer to be involved in this project. Tedd’s vision, the spaces’ needs for improved acoustics and air quality, and the breadth of our ceiling and wall panel portfolios all came together seamlessly.”
Williams and Armstrong focused on three key spaces used by the Architectural Technology program students, identifying their function and current shortcomings, then designed ceiling and wall solutions for each one.
For all three spaces, integrated partners including Price Industries, JLC Tech, and USAI Lighting, brought in solutions for lighting and diffusers. Armstrong’s relationship with these partners provided valuable support for fit and finish purposes. Lights and diffusers seamlessly work within the panels and suspension systems while finishes coordinated across materials. The Armstrong PROJECTWORKS team also assisted with initial renderings and design accuracy.
“PROJECTWORKS and the collaborative effort nailed the design intent in all three spaces and helped make them truly student centric as well as a draw to prospective newcomers,” said Williams. “I’m consistently hearing how professional these spaces feel and about the improvement in air quality, lighting, and acoustics.”
Williams, who served as a project manager, appreciated that Armstrong and other partners took care to ensure a design that aligned with the Architectural Technology program. Moreover, after seeing what the Architectural Technology rooms achieved, programs in adjacent spaces were inspired to start their own process of freshening up their look.
In terms of teachable moments, the project was filled with them. Students got involved in proactive troubleshooting, organizing materials for installation, and more. “I see how much Thaddeus Stevens invests in preparing their students for the real world,” said Kelley. “To be able to support that mission means a great deal to Armstrong, and it brings me joy to see my journey that started at the college come full circle.”
Project: Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology - Griscom Education Center
Location: Lancaster, PA
Architect: Architect at Thaddeus Stevens