Thiel College, Bly Hall Renovation

Greenville, Pennsylvania

Firm

ThenDesign Architecture

Client

Thiel College

Area

3,700 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$750,000

Completion Date

09/2013

Established in 1866, Thiel College is a small, independent liberal arts, sciences and professional studies institution in western Pennsylvania. The institution uses Bly Hall, the largest lecture hall on campus, for many purposes. Situated in the five-level Academic Center, it hosts classes in the lecture format and small-group collaboration format; however, it also is used as event space for movie nights, streaming speaker broadcasts, in-person guest lectures, freshman orientation and more.
After many years of heavy use, the space needed both a functional and an aesthetic facelift. The key challenge was designing for flexibility to accommodate all the different functions, as well as adhering to a modest budget and aggressive schedule so that the work could be completed during the summer. In addition to updating the technology and look of Bly Hall, the designers improved the function of the space by replacing two rows of seats with benches, tables and movable stools that can be used for project-based learning, small-group discussion and other collaborative activities.