Kauke Reborn: New Life for a Campus Landmark

by John Hopkins

Kauke Hall may have begun life as a phoenix rising from the ashes of Old Main, but in the decades since its 1961 renovation, it had come to resemble a far humbler bird: a much-loved, but undeniably ugly duckling. With its dropped ceilings, narrow corridors, cramped offices, battered furniture, and drab colors, it was a place that admissions tour guides intentionally avoided. But now, following the completion of a 14-month, $18 million renovation, Kauke has reclaimed center stage on the admissions tour.

“It’s just a stunning blend of the original building and the most modern construction you can imagine,” said Iain Crawford, vice president for academic affairs. “It’s such a dramatic improvement.”

The dropped ceilings are gone, revealing windows covered for 45 years. Skylights and atria have been added, and glass has replaced masonry walls in stairwells to let in more natural light. Corridors that were barely five feet wide in places have been expanded to eight feet. Demolition revealed brick arches and hand-cut sandstone foundation blocks too beautiful to cover up again.

Every square inch of interior space has been reconfigured, with classrooms now grouped in the east wing of the building, faculty offices in the west. New furnishings, carpeting, rich woodwork, and paint in shades of cream, terra-cotta, and green make formerly uninviting spaces warm and welcoming.

Particularly welcoming are the new commons area on the second floor and the Old Main Café on the ground floor, carved out of space that once held the building’s mechanical systems. Open from seven a.m. until nine p.m., the café has quickly become a favorite gathering place for faculty, students, and staff.

The new Kauke is a feast for the eyes, but the transformation beneath the surface is just as impressive. Unable to use a crane because they were working within the recesses of the building, workers set 147 tons of structural steel by hand. They also installed 65 tons of ductwork, 47 miles of electrical wire, and 34 miles of data cable to serve new classroom technology. Every one of the building’s 571 windows was replaced.

President R. Stanton Hales praised the Pittsburgh firm MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni Architects, Inc., especially lead architect Albert L. Filoni, for Kauke’s stunning rebirth.

“Along with his associates,Terry Shannon, Bob Rush, and Amy Maceyko, Filoni saw the magic that could be achieved in this renovation.” Hales said. “Their jointly-held vision and enthusiasm for the project was central to its success.”