Architects & Engineers Winter 2008 Project Report: Dake Wells Architecture Inc.

Dake Wells is the architect for a renovation at Missouri State University’s games center in the basement of Plaster Student Union. The project is intended to divide office-type space into a youthful and energetic lounge area. Smith-Goth Engineers Inc. is the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer, and Jones and Associates is the structural engineer for the roughly $126,000 project. A general contractor has not yet been selected. With a budget of $12 per square foot, the design approach focuses on dramatic lighting scenarios to create more intimate gathering spaces partitioned by light. The light partition also ties the university to the space without the school’s color theme or literal relationships to the bear mascot, as the partition is a metaphor for the bear treat honey. The project also uses graphics and pop culture icons, such as images from movies “The Big Lebowski” and “Kingpin.” The center includes eight existing bowling lanes. Completion is slated for August. [[In-content Ad]]