AU will begin renovations on the McKinley building in January 2012 to make it the new School of Communication, with SOC slotted to move into the building in early 2014, according to SOC Dean Larry Kirkman.
SOC will fund the renovation with university-issued bonds, according to Kirkman.
SOC plans to utilize McKinley for public events, bigger classrooms, offices, production facilities, student services and informal meetings.
Kirkman emphasized the need for informal lounges “so students can meet easily and spontaneously.”
The design also includes a 150-seat theater classroom on the second floor and an open courtyard on the roof.
“[The space] will allow us to bring groups together, [so] students won’t be ‘silo-ed’ and can work at the intersection of their disciplines and professions,” Kirkman said.
A plaza entrance facing the Main Quad is also planned for the building. The glass façade will showcase the first floor’s media innovation lab — a trans-media production center with an interactive newsroom.
The lab will not replace the Media Production Center and its HD TV studio. Fiber optic cabling will be installed between the buildings to optimize collaboration.
The Center for Social Media and the Investigative Reporting Workshop will be moved from New Mexico Avenue to McKinley, according to Kirkman.
“The use of MGC’s third floor after SOC moves out is still under discussion but will most certainly continue to be designated for academic use in order to meet the increasing needs of our academic programs and faculty,” Vice Provost for Academic Administration Violeta Ettle said.
The University chose to renovate McKinley building rather than construct a new building to avoid potential zoning issues with the District.
“[The move to McKinley is] about identity and having a building that’s SOC and that reflects the stature and representation that we deserve,” Kirkman said. “[It’s about] having facilities so we can accomplish our mission and have the kind of impact we should have that’s leading the way.”
Kirkman said SOC obtained the construction permit in July and is now awaiting final approval from the D.C. Zoning Commission. No setbacks are anticipated.
Kirkman said a faculty-staff committee has been working this year with Bowie Gridley Architects to redesign the building.
“[SOC has] clearly outgrown the third floor of Mary Graydon,” Associate Dean for Administration & Planning Ed Beimfohr said.
The University first reserved McKinley building for SOC in 2004.
