In 2007, Providence, RI made a bold move to relocate interstate I-195, which had been cutting off vital areas of the vibrant city from its core since the 1950s. As an abutter to the former highway, Johnson & Wales University recognized that the reclaimed land offered significant opportunities for the growth of their Providence campus, coincidently providing a site for a new interdisciplinary STEAM facility that would act as gateway to a new part of JWU’s Downcity campus. 

The school aimed to raise the profile of small programs historically occupied in found spaces on campus. By conceiving this building as a hub for these programs, a type of interdisciplinary learning approach was paired with a “science on display” concept to create a vibrant center for learning that would interface directly with the building faced the public realm. Design spaces became galleries and engineering workshops had storefront exposures. This building became a clear expression of the school's commitment to growing these burgeoning programs in a clear and intentional manner. 

The siting of this new 71,000 SF STEAM building anchors an important corner of the reconnected Downcity neighborhood, and informs master planning for the future development of the campus. By splitting the building into East and West wings joined by a central hub, the building presents itself as a true gateway. The central hub, featuring a café and social spaces, provides a catalyst for intellectual cross-pollination within, allowing for interdisciplinary collaboration between designers, engineers, and scientists, while acting as an urban threshold to the future extended campus. 

To fully reinforce the gateway concept, a lively outdoor meeting space reflects the style of Providence’s tradition of intimate pocket parks - blurring the line between public and student spaces. Pocket parks are an urban highlight that comes from the human scale fabric of Providence. An open trellis at the property line signals to students and public alike that while you are crossing a threshold, that this space is designed for everyone to enjoy. The park has become an urban attractor, drawing students from across campus as well as businesses and the public to this thriving destination in the city's Downcity community.