Architects:Christoff : Finio

Area :12000 m²

Year :2019

Lead Architects :Taryn Christoff, Martin Finio

Lighting Design :One Lux Studio

Structural Engineer :Hage Engineering

Landscape Architect :Reed Hilderbrand

Project Managers :Caleb Linville, Dan Hemmendinger

Acoustics :Acoustic Distinctions

MEP :LN Consulting

Civil Engineer :Otter Creek Engineering

General Contractor :PC Construction

Design Team : Kathy Kao, Kat Ballo, Meredith Strickland, Connie Chung, Anne Herndon

Code Consultant : Centerline Architects

Foodservice Consultant : Corsi Associates

Envelope : James R. Gainfort

Av/ Acoustics : Acoustic Distinctions

Specifications : Construction Specifications Inc.

Cost Estimating : Ellana Inc

Commissioning : Cx Associates

Audio Visual : Acoustic Distinctions

Audiovisual : Acoustic Distinctions

City : Bennington

Country : United States

For the renovation of Bennington College's Commons building, originally built in 1932, Christoff:Finio Architecture (C:FA) transformed the campus's beloved but dated centerpiece into a contemporary hub for academic and student life. The first substantial upgrade to the building since the 1930s, the renovation reinforces Commons' Beaux-Arts character while updating it to meet the performance and programmatic needs of the college community for decades to come.

To achieve this, the renovation maintains the historic southern facade, adds a contemporary new entryway on the northern facade, cuts a pedestrian pathway through the building to connect the halves of campus it stands between, brings 16 new classrooms online, and doubles dining capacity—all without expanding the building's footprint.