Lynn University and Gensler, the leading global architecture, design and planning firm, won the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Miami Honor Award of Excellence for the Christine E. Lynn University Center. The building earned the top spot in the category for buildings of 50,000 square feet or more.
Opened in February 2019, the Lynn University Center is located in the middle of Lynn’s 115-acre campus, between student housing, academic buildings, athletics facilities and campus services. The building is a hub for social, academic and dining spaces where students and community members can work and play.
“We designed the university center to be the ‘heart of the campus’ and drive connectivity,” said Dana Muller, LEED-AP, senior associate and project manager for Gensler. “Integrating collaborative and focused-work space with transparency and blended spaces encourages students to find their own place while supporting each other in a home away from home setting.”
The building’s interior contains open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and seating that promotes engagement among peers, faculty and staff. The ground floor acts as an extension of the surrounding campus, inviting students to socialize in the 24-hour dining hall and common areas. A wide and welcoming staircase invites visitors to the second floor, where they can find opportunities for personal and academic growth with Career and Alumni Connections, Center for Learning Abroad, Center for Student Involvement and Division of Student Affairs. They can also take in views of campus from three balconies, or enjoy dinner and a drink at Christine’s, an upscale pub. The third floor serves as a hub for social impact with spaces for collaboration and special programming.
"The Honor Award of Excellence is a testament to the vision of students, faculty, staff and partners who worked to make the university center a reality," said Gregory J. Malfitano, senior vice president for development and administration at Lynn.
He said, "With the generous support of Christine E. Lynn and our donors, Gensler executed an exceptional facility that brings our community together at the heart of campus."
