University of Cincinnati “Glass House” Earns AIA Award

March 15, 2016 2257 Views drinking water, Eastern U.S., Gregory H. Holt, Hudson Pacific Properties, LEED for Existing Buildings, Robert Pierce, The Farnsworth Group

CINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati’s “Glass House,” Morgens Hall, recently earned a 2015 American Institute of Architects (AIA) of Ohio Award. The project team incorporated a number of sustainable and energy-efficient features and building techniques into the innovative renovation, which also earned the hall LEED Silver certification in 2015, according to the University of Cincinnati.

The renovation of Morgens Hall, originally built in 1964 by locally based F.W. Pressler & Associates (now PFB Architects), has surpassed most new construction projects for sustainability and aesthetic quality. This, in turn, has earned the building design awards from the AIA Cincinnati, AIA Cleveland and AIA Ohio, according to Aaron Hill, partner architect with Richard Fleischmann + Partners Architects Inc., the firm responsible for the Morgens Hall renovation.

The renovation project was not initially in the university’s 2000 construction plans, according to a statement by the university. Then, both Morgens Hall and Scioto Hall were set to be demolished.
In 2008, however, the buildings’ foundations were found to be stable, prompting the university to opt for renovation as opposed to building new facilities from scratch. Scioto Hall, which is currently under renovation to mirror Morgens Hall, is set to be complete in August 2016.

Rooms in Morgens Hall as well as Scioto Hall will feature glass panels with adjustable privacy screens, which will not only give students privacy, but will also conserve energy due to the opaque and thermal weaved design. The hall’s small rooms and superior insulation will also help to reduce lighting, heating and cooling costs.

The location of Morgens and Scioto Halls will allow students to forgo personal transportation because they can walk, ride a bike or take a bus to get around the campus, according to a statement by the university. Their proximity to the existing library and the recreation center also made them an ideal housing option for students, said Mary Beth McGrew, AIA, senior associate vice president of Planning + Design + Construction, University Architect Division of Administration and Finance, according to the University of Cincinnati website.