2nd Place, Interior
Tucked into a grove of trees at the edge of Penn State’s main campus in University Park, architect Robert Venturi initially envisioned the Oak Building as a “house in the woods”—a secluded faculty club where professors could relax, exercise and socialize.
When it opened, deep soffits and lattice window screens fostered the play of light across crisp, green walls, evoking a forest interior within its main hall. But as it was adapted for changing uses, much of its charm was lost to ad-hoc interventions. Its clerestory windows were covered; screens were stripped away; and its signature round, interior window was boarded.
Turning the building into the Marriott Foundation Building, a home for the School of Hospitality Management’s Learning Center for Hospitality, Inclusion, and Innovation (LCHII), required tact and vision. Sensitive to the building’s historical importance, GBBN’s renovation restored much of what had been lost or covered while introducing distinctly new elements, such as the fins in the main space, to reinforce the original design intent and bolster LCHII’s mission to welcome, support and inspire.
While opening access to the building with an intuitive, welcoming entry, the renovation reopened lost windows (filtering incoming light through the custom fins) and reconnected the airy interior to the beauty of the surrounding trees. The connection to the outside is reinforced by an outdoor event space, which the Events Lab, the heart of the building, opens directly onto.
Located in the main hall, the Events Lab pulls double duty as a classroom and event space. It is supported by a serving kitchen, the Beverage Lab and a lounge. The entire ground floor supports an experiential learning model by providing everything needed to host hospitality events. The building also integrates into the hospitality hub of campus, connecting to the historic Nittany Lion Inn and the School of Hospitality Management’s home in Mateer Hall.
Additional conference rooms, graduate student offices, a studio and makerspace are housed in the building’s upper and lower levels.
A challenge involved the building’s distinctive cedar shake roof—a detail that is essential to its overall aesthetic. The team found the insulation and sheathing were in good condition, but a buildup of organic materials on the cedar shingles was causing some buckling. Preservative treatments were not a viable option because that would conflict with the code’s requirement for fire-retardant shingles. Instead, the team installed zinc strips, just under the shingles at 6-foot intervals. When rain washes over the strips, it releases trace amounts of zinc particles that inhibit the growth of moss and extend the life of the roof.
The renovation transforms what was originally conceived as an exclusive destination—an elite faculty club—into a welcoming space for students and guests.
Retrofit Team
ARCHITECT: GBBN
- Amanda Markovic, AIA
- Matt Plecity
- Mark Lee
- Melissa Dulisse
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: WBCM
CIVIL AND MEP ENGINEER: CJL