James Madison University, Hartman Hall and Showker Hall

Inside James Madison University's Showker Hall, students and faculty navigated increasingly crowded hallways and classrooms as enrollment swelled to 4,400—more than double the building's intended capacity of 2,100. The College of Business addressed this space deficit with a comprehensive solution: an expansion project combining extensive renovations to Showker Hall with the creation of Hartman Hall. Together, these buildings form a 210,000-square-foot academic complex that exemplifies excellence in business education facilities across the United States.

Design and Implementation

The project focused on an expansion that extends toward Newman Lake, integrating effectively with the existing Showker Hall. At the center of this enhancement lies a three-story, light-filled atrium that functions as a gathering space, connecting students, faculty, and staff. This central hub links the college's principal facilities: the Capital Markets Lab, the Innovation Collaboration and Entrepreneurship Lab, and student services.

Learning and Collaboration Spaces

The complex includes well-designed spaces that support both formal and informal interaction. A Learning Concourse situated at the atrium's southwest end overlooks a 300-seat dining facility, which opens onto a sheltered terrace offering views of Newman Lake. The second floor houses an impressive double-height Great Hall—a versatile 300-person event space complete with a lake-view terrace. Administrative offices and the dean's suite occupy the upper levels, while each floor's center contains faculty offices and student engagement areas.

Architectural Elements and Integration

The design incorporates its surroundings through three distinct outdoor spaces: a formal entry plaza from Bluestone Drive, the Eagle Shorts Courtyard, and the Lakeside Plaza. A double-height promenade connects the extension with Showker Hall, establishing an appealing entry point from the campus core. The fourth floor features an oculus providing panoramic 360-degree campus views, while the addition's colors and styles blend with the existing structure.

Building Improvements

The renovation of Showker Hall encompassed extensive updates including a new roof, HVAC system, lighting, and windows. The project team upgraded telecommunications and audiovisual infrastructure while replacing ceilings and flooring throughout. Although the primary plumbing infrastructure remained, all bathrooms received full renovations with updated fixtures.

Construction Planning

The project's execution required detailed planning to maintain academic operations. The team established clear boundaries between construction areas and occupied spaces, developing alternate locations that allowed classes to continue uninterrupted throughout the two-year construction period. This approach began with the addition's construction, followed by systematic renovation of the existing structure.

The resulting complex provides flexible classrooms, dedicated business development spaces, and advanced meeting areas that connect the college with educational and business partners worldwide. Through effective design and coordinated implementation, this enhancement has created a business education facility that enriches academic excellence at James Madison University.

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