Located at the heart of Vanderbilt University’s historic campus, it’s been said that “all roads lead to Rand Hall.” Originally built in 1953, the building serves as the main dining facility for students. Rand Hall had endured multiple vertical and horizontal additions over the years, resulting in a confusing building that was hard to navigate. In 2000, in an attempt to increase space, Rand Hall was connected to the adjacent Sarratt Hall. However, joining the two long-standing buildings didn’t resolve the chronic circulation issues, but instead added to the chaos.
When the Vanderbilt Bookstore vacated Rand Hall, Vanderbilt called on Gresham Smith to develop a master plan and design the 75,000-square-foot renovation. In the end, the project team created a unified space that is distinctly Vanderbilt and serves as the center of student activity.
square-foot renovation
original construction year
students gave design input
Developing Goals to Guide the Way
Through surveys and focus groups, Vanderbilt solicited input from almost 1,500 students. The students ultimately asked for a new student center, space for student services, food services and a campus convenience store.Given the variety of spaces, our design team established fundamental goals to keep the project focused. Our key objectives included:
- Correcting circulation issues;
- Renovating and expanding the dining center;
- Creating a student center, convenience store and much-needed space for student services;
- And through it all, conveying a distinctly Vanderbilt University message.
Capitalizing on a Window of Opportunity
Coordinating with Vanderbilt Campus Planning, Vanderbilt Campus Dining and the Office of the Dean of Students, our team developed an aggressive, phased design schedule that allowed students to leave for summer break and return to a brand new dining facility in the fall.Over the summer we gutted the existing dining center, with the exception of the Gresham Smith-designed Chef James Bistro—a popular 2,000-square-foot, retail-style restaurant located in the same space.
Keeping Traffic Flow in Mind
To address the space’s circulation issues, the design team utilized a circulation system typically reserved for a different type of traffic: cars. An intuitive corridor system helps students and visitors naturally stay on the path.To help establish a clear path of travel, we installed tile flooring to define the corridor and a new monumental stairwell to access the upper floor. We also added additional windows to take advantage of campus views.
Unifying Separate Spaces
The second phase of the project included the new student center, the campus convenience store and space for student services. Since the upper floor consisted of two separate spaces that had no physical connection, we added an enclosed connecting corridor across the roof.With Rand Hall, Sarratt Hall and the former campus bookstore finally unified, the first floor of the empty bookstore was transformed into the new student center, and its upper level was converted into a space for student services, as well as new meeting spaces and offices.
A Space Distinctly Vanderbilt
Located in the heart of campus, Rand Hall and the Sarratt Student Center had to live and breathe Vanderbilt. The University’s signature black and gold are intentionally interspersed throughout the space in wall coverings, custom carpets, dimensional lettering for signage, tile flooring and graphics. As a finishing touch, large-scale photos of life on campus are placed in strategic locations.A key stop on the tour route for prospective students and their parents, the newly renovated Rand Hall and Sarratt Student Center clearly represents Vanderbilt University’s commitment to excellence and reinforces it’s standing as one of the nation’s finest universities.
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