Portfolio Type: Higher Education

The new Entomology Building will provide a much-needed, multifunctional academic research center for the school. Addressing the critical needs for entomological teaching, research, and continuing education, this new facility will include state-of-the-art laboratories, greenhouses, “smart” classrooms, private offices, conference rooms, a 200-seat auditorium, and a working museum to house one of the world’s largest mayfly research collections along with one of the Southeast’s largest aquatic insect collections.

The 70,000-square-foot building makes use of a four-level atrium as the principle architectural ordering device. This light-filled atrium serves to both organize and separate the various elements of the program. Placing the high energy laboratories on the south side and the classrooms, offices, and conference areas on the north side, all on display from within the atrium, fosters a dynamic, open and collaborative scientific environment.

The atrium will function as the social heart of the facility with its common areas for socialization and impromptu encounters when moving from labs and offices onto the bridges and open corridors. In addition to serving as a common social space for the researchers, the atrium will accommodate a variety of activities, including exhibitions, banquets, group and private study, as well as a vibrant place for all members of the University’s family to come together as a community.

Using a palette of architectural concrete, stone, masonry, and a glazing system with aluminum shading elements in a carefully proportioned composition, the exterior cladding will provide more of a human-scale to the building and allow it to better harmonize with the fabric of the campus.

The new Entomology Building will deliver a much-needed facility for the growth and advancement of the University’s mission by focusing the collective efforts of scientists, students, and agricultural industry leaders to sustain a responsive, collaborative, and creative learning environment.

The new Lecture Hall, located on the campus of an independent medical university on a Caribbean Island in the West Indies, will provide a much-needed multi-functional academic center for the school. Sited on a promontory overlooking the campus and the beautiful bays beyond, the building will command a civic type of presence, becoming a landmark destination as well as a beacon when darkness falls across the campus.

The 40,000-square-foot building will consist of a large main hall adjoined by two smaller side halls, providing a total capacity of approximately 1,700 seats. With the integration of retractable telescopic seating systems, the upper portion of the main hall and both side halls can be easily reconfigured to accommodate a variety of uses and teaching styles, transforming these venues to host a multitude of events.  

A multi-level series of steps, benches and landscaped areas will negotiate the 40 SF elevation change from the main roadway to the front entrance and lobby. Upon entering the lobby, visitors are greeted by an open plan cafe and a variety of seating options. 

Wrapping the main hall on three sides, the lobby provides ample space for a variety of activities, including exhibition, banquets, group and private study, as well as a pleasant place for all members of the university family to come together as a community. 

Exterior terraces on either side of the building will provide an extension to the interior lobby space for public gatherings and respite from academic functions. The glass enclosure containing the lobby will establish a strong connection to the immediate landscape and the beautiful surrounding terrain, encouraging activities to easily flow from inside to outside. 

Structurally, the roof is composed of laminated timber beams and rafters forming a diaphragm that will span the lobbies and auditoriums. Exposing the grid of laminated wood on the interior will express structural integrity as well as create a sense of order for the building.  Y-shaped concrete columns marching along the angled sides of the building will support the roof diaphragm and consist of a hybrid of precast elements and cast-in-place connections. 

While the Lecture Hall, with its symmetrical plan, makes use of the predominant clay tile roof found on adjacent campus buildings, the form, detailing and structural characteristics will give the new building a modern feel and further separate it as a centerpiece for the campus. 

Cultivating greater vitality and fostering a greater sense of community among faculty, students, and visitors, the Lecture Hall should quickly become the social hub of the campus. 

Located on the vibrant Caribbean Island of Grenada, St. George’s University School of Medicine commissioned DAG to design a state-of-the-art, 240-bed student residence hall that redefines the campus living experience. Charged with creating a solution that balances innovation with long-term cost efficiency, the design team responded with a fresh architectural vision rooted in contextual sensitivity and student wellness. 

The project unfolded in two phases, beginning with a comprehensive planning and programming effort aimed at reassessing the University’s established design-build approach. DAG was selected to explore a broader range of design possibilities and elevate the institution’s architectural standards. 

Drawing on the proven success of the university’s existing three-bedroom suite model, the new residence hall expands this concept with refined spatial planning and enhanced communal amenities. The design integrates a series of collaborative lounges, study nooks, and social zones strategically placed to encourage interaction while preserving student privacy, spaces which were not incorporated in previous student housing. Durable, passive cooling strategies, and low-maintenance finishes are seamlessly woven into the architectural palette to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience in the island climate. 

Through thoughtful articulation of form, texture, and spatial hierarchy, the dormitory is envisioned not just as a place to sleep—but as a vital, connected environment that supports academic success, well-being, and a strong sense of community. 

The new Center for the Arts established a prominent “front door” for the Chipola College campus. Serving approximately 10,000 annual visitors, the performing arts facility caters to the cultural and artistic needs of students, residents, and community organizations. 

The center features a 655-seat performance theater equipped with a fly loft and orchestra pit, as well as a 150-seat black box theater designed for intimate performances and recitals. For the convenience of performers, there are four dressing rooms with capacity for 40-60 people. The center also includes an art gallery, a spacious green room, a dance studio, a costume shop, and a two-story set design workshop.  The lobby serves as a central gathering space for informal socializing and fundraising events, enhancing the community’s engagement with the arts. HLGstudio partnered on the interior design.