Chiang | O’Brien was selected to renovate the Albert W. Brown Building for the Academic Success Center (ASC), a coalition of programs currently located in four separate buildings. This project established a single, central location for academic counseling, advisement, tutoring services, and access to programs in an environment that helps students to thrive.

The building is sited at one of the campus’ main crossroads—perfectly positioned to draw pedestrians from both the newly created east-west promenade and the footbridge which serves as the main north-south connection. The new entrances and diagonal movement in the plan layout encourage student traffic into and through the space in order to showcase the work and services provided by the ASC. Open study nooks and views into glass enclosed classrooms, huddle, and study areas are on either side of the interior corridor.

Large expanses of interior glass storefront promote an open, collaborative environment, and a sliding glass wall enclosing one of the main tutoring study spaces allows for additional flexibility. New windows, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems as well as a completely new palette of finishes including paint, ceilings, flooring, and doors with transom lights renew the entire building.