In reimagining what a 21^st-century school of business could be, the Lehigh University College of Business has developed a new facility that will bring discovery-based learning environments to their undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs. We developed the project’s initial feasibility study before proceeding into design.

Holding pride of place will be the Vistex Institute for Executive Learning and Research, one of their signature programs, in a dedicate suite. A business incubator, designed to foster innovation, will help students explore entrepreneurship. Specialized learning environments will include a mock trading floor equipped with Bloomberg terminals, two data analytics rooms, a full production studio, and a behavior lab. The most remarkable classroom will be the one designed “in the round” which will help prepare students for tech-driven pitches and virtual presentations.

The new three-story, four floor building will sit catty corner from the existing Rauch Business Center, to be renovated and expanded as part of a future phase designed in conjunction with this project. A landscaped pedestrian plaza carved out of the limestone façade will be an oasis on bustling Packer Avenue and will lead into a soaring central atrium that looks out onto the rest of campus.

The project officially broke ground in April 2021 and construction is slated for completion in Fall 2022.

Landscape completed in association with Stimson Associates.

PUBLICATIONS

• "Lehigh Breaks Ground on New College of Business Building," Lehigh University Communications & Public Affairs. May 20, 2021.
• "Lehigh University's New Business Education Center is a Step Closer to Construction," Lehigh Valley Live, January 2020.
• "Business Beyond Boundaries," Lehigh News, October 2019.