Reveal: Seaton Hall and Seaton Court Renovation and Expansion at Kansas State University

October 13, 2017

Jessica Kleoppel

We celebrated the October 13 dedication of the Seaton Hall and Seaton Court Renovation and Expansion, designed in collaboration with Ennead Architects, with a countdown of personal revelations from the BNIM design team.

#bnimrevealsseatonhall

“These are my four favorite construction shots from our friend Tom Leopold, demonstrating how construction methods have changed over the last 140 years. The original, 1860s columns were built on a brick foundation. New columns were welded in place.” CASEY CASSIAS, PRINCIPAL

“My first true recognition of the magnificent opposition between new and old, as the addition revealed itself from the south face of Mechanics Hall.” JOE KEAL, PRINCIPAL

“Seaton Addition and the Jewel were designed to act as connectors between the two historic bookends of Seaton East and Mechanics Hall. It was critical to get the alignments exactly right between each of the buildings. This photo is my first memory of these connections occurring in the field. Witnessing most of the major structural members in place and, shortly after, walking uninterrupted between each of the buildings was an important and memorable moment in the construction process — and a welcome departure from climbing ladders!” NADAV BITTAN, DESIGN TEAM

“This large strip of metal in the basement of Seaton East was one of several discovered objects. We explored the possibility of leaving it exposed in the finished project, but it was ultimately removed. You can see its original use in the 1914–15 archives: the Olsen Testing Machine used in the Applied Mechanics Lab.” JOHN COLLIER, PROJECT ARCHITECT

“I spent my final Interior Architecture & Product Design program year in the Seaton East Level 2 studio. Seeing trace paper on the walls was such a familiar scene from years of living in the old space. Seeing it pinned up in a new, modernized building was a full-circle moment for me.” CARLY PUMPHREY, INTERIOR ARCHITECT

“The exposed, new pile wall layered against Mechanics Hall in the background made me imagine this was an archeological dig site, uncovering decades of Seaton Hall’s existence. The color of the rough-formed foundation perfectly complements the Kansas limestone. The light and shadow are absolutely mesmerizing.” JOE KEAL, PRINCIPAL

“This detail shows the raw steel base and frames around the corridor tackable walls. The raw steel throughout the building will stand up to years of wear and tear. It also communicates that, though the facility is beautiful, it isn’t so precious that it can’t be used as a lab for design discovery. These details were carefully thought-out in design and beautifully executed in construction.” CARLY PUMPHREY, INTERIOR ARCHITECT

“Locating a 300-seat auditorium in the original, two-story, 1905 woodshop was one of the most bold and exciting results of the planning and design process. It was a privilege to watch the space’s systematic demolishment and rebuilding. This photo shows the layers of old and new construction, and the careful and respectful attention paid to the building’s original features and oddities.” NADAV BITTAN, DESIGN TEAM

“These before-and-afters show construction and the (nearly) completed Seaton East Level 2 porch space, which I love, and studio. It was gratifying to see mobile desks and students’ work against the glass — evidence that they immediately felt comfortable using the building as a lab for their design process. This was the goal all along.” CARLY PUMPHREY, INTERIOR ARCHITECT

“The kind of work they do here allows humans to flourish.” RICHARD MYERS, PRESIDENT OF KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

“We’re proud of our new facility, showing tradition and modernity in harmony together.” TIM DE NOBLE, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING & DESIGN

Congrats, team!

Posted to Medium.

Reveal: Seaton Hall and Seaton Court Renovation and Expansion at Kansas State University

Connect with

Subscribe to