Project
Teaching
the Teachers

Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH, USA
With renovations to the Inamori School of Engineering, the New York State College of Ceramics gained a showcase to display the quality and creativity of its highly specialized ceramics research.
1 of 4
A contemporary new structure, inserted into the existing courtyard, houses new ceramics labs and imaging suites, as well as student lounges and common spaces.
2 of 4
The addition is structurally distinct from the existing building, in order to protect the microscopy and spectroscopy suites from the light, vibration and electromagnetic interference of the other labs.
3 of 4
The structurally separate addition also allows daylight to enter into the former courtyard rooms, which are now located in the interior of the building.
4 of 4
The school of engineering and the college of ceramics needed to upgrade their facilities within the McMahon Engineering Building, a large U-shaped brick building that dates to 1952. Additions and renovations to the McMahon building inserted a contemporary new structure into the existing courtyard and created prominent new entrances on both sides of the building.
The courtyard addition is structurally distinct from the existing building, with a foundation that utilizes inertia blocks and spring isolators, in order to protect the sensitive microscopy and spectroscopy suites from the light, vibration and electromagnetic interference of the other laboratories. This separation also allows daylight to enter into the former courtyard rooms, which are now located in the interior of the building.
The new addition includes microscopy and spectroscopy imaging suites, high temperature ceramics laboratories, and X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis laboratories. Other programs include project-based classroom for freshman engineering students, a student lounge, a computer lab and flexible common space.