The comprehensive renovation of the DeFrancesco Building with result in a home for the Kutztown University College of Business that truly responds to the school’s needs while creating a strong new architectural presence on campus. 

General classrooms and seminar rooms throughout the building are designed to optimize sightlines and acoustics. Computer labs on the ground and first floors, with capacities between 36-48 students, can be programmed for instruction or used by students in between classes. An active learning lab will provide flexibility for small classes with unique pedagogical needs. Breakout rooms on every floor, with a concentration on the ground floor, provide dedicated tech-integrated spaces for group study and collaboration. Informal seating areas can be found throughout the building to help foster the collaborative collegiate environment sought by the university. 

On the first floor, a large central lounge includes a variety of seating to support socializing, independent study, and group work. The lounge is created in part through a small addition that works with the grade of the surrounding site to create a prominent new entry. A second entry addition will offer easy access to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a signature program that connects local small businesses with industry consultants, which has been given a dedicated home on the first floor.

Faculty offices, organized into suites with shared amenities, are distributed throughout DeFrancesco but are largely dispersed around the perimeter of the second floor. Many of the offices include windows to bring in natural light. Adjacent to the Dean’s suite is the Board Room, which can be used for both meetings and classes, and which overlooks the student lounge on the floor below.