Willis F. Dunbar Hall

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Firm

TowerPinkster

Client

Western Michigan University

Area

78,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$34,745,555

Completion Date

06/2024

Jason Keen Photography

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Western Michigan University’s Dunbar Hall, built in 1971, has been transformed through a renovation, including an 11,000-square-foot addition. Now serving over 17,000 students annually, it offers a flexible, inclusive and innovation-forward academic environment.

The reimagined building features varied classroom sizes and multifunctional seminar rooms equipped with custom furniture tailored to the needs of each space and class. Active learning spaces, informal study zones, and distance learning-ready classrooms support diverse learning styles. A glass-walled media suite and a dance studio reflect Dunbar’s commitment to experiential learning.

A new elevator tower enhances accessibility within Dunbar Hall and connects two significant areas of campus, improving overall circulation. Additional improvements include corridor-based collaboration spaces, color-coded floors, modular furniture and strategic wayfinding.

Sustainability is key to the design, which includes low-VOC and locally sourced materials, two green roofs visible from the interior and educational LEED signage. The renovation is a model of modern educational design—dynamic, inclusive and future-ready.