Blending Progress and Preservation – Transforming Student Life & Revitalizing Downtown Cleveland

Solution:

As part of Cleveland State University’s campus expansion and its commitment to helping revitalize downtown Cleveland, our team designed and executed a multi-phase redevelopment strategy. The plan included the complete demolition and rebuild of the student union, the adaptive reuse of a historically protected building for housing, and a focus on creating a technology-forward, student centered experience that reconnected the campus to the surrounding urban core.

Key components of the project included:

✅ Student Union Redevelopment – A New Era of Campus Engagement

• Demolished the outdated student union and constructed a modern, multifunctional facility tailored to the needs of 21st century students.
• Integrated a centralized support model through the launch of Campus411, bringing together Financial Aid, Registrar, Bursar, and Academic Advising into a single, accessible location.
• Created spaces for Student Life, Campus Activities Board, Greek Life, and other student-led organizations to thrive.
• Designed common areas, lounges, and flexible-use zones to foster collaboration, networking, and student success.
• Added dining options, a full-service campus bookstore, and student amenities, making the union a daily destination.

✅ Tech-Enabled Learning – Mobility and Specialized Access

• Introduced a mobile computer lab program, giving students the freedom to check out university laptops and work anywhere across campus.
• Designed dedicated spaces for high-performance Apple machines, supporting students in media, design, and other creative fields.

✅ Historic Building Reimagined – From Abandonment to Vibrant Student Housing

• Worked in collaboration with the state’s historic preservation committee to preserve the architectural integrity of the unused 1930s-era building.
• Repurposed the structure into modern student housing, offering both single- and double-occupancy suites while maintaining its historic character.
• Brought new energy to a long-dormant asset without compromising its heritage, unlocking needed residential capacity in a cost-effective, sustainable way.

✅ Downtown Corridor Revitalization – Connecting Campus and City

• Strategically positioned both projects along Cleveland’s downtown-facing corridor, helping activate the street and encourage foot traffic, exploration, and business growth.
• Played a pivotal role in CSU’s broader urban development plan, contributing to the university’s increased visibility, student attraction, and long-term growth.

Outcome:

✔ A reimagined, tech-forward Student Union with streamlined student services and vibrant engagement spaces

✔ A beautifully restored historic student housing facility that brought new life to an abandoned downtown building

✔ Increased student satisfaction, retention, and on-campus engagement

✔ Strengthened economic and pedestrian activity along a key gateway into downtown Cleveland

✔ Demonstrated the university’s leadership in blending tradition with innovation

Why Work With Us?

✔ Deep experience in higher education infrastructure, campus master planning, and historic preservation

✔ Proven success in navigating state regulations and architectural standards

✔ A collaborative, data-driven approach to designing student-first, future-ready environments

✔ Commitment to community development, urban connectivity, and long-term institutional growth