Old Main Hall at Carroll College, Waukesha, Wis.

The original Old Main Hall at Carroll College featured an open floor plate without columns or encumbrances.

Many students believed the three-story building was hung from cable. In fact, slender iron rods and wood trusses suspend Old Main's floors.

Peeling Away Plaster

As architects and engineers peeled away the plaster, it became clear the best way to bring back the building's distinctiveness was to display the original building structure.
The limestone walls, iron rods and timber trusses were to be fully exposed.

Once the building was opened up, a light and comfortable feel emerged. The high ceilings and large windows bring in natural light, and hardwood floors complement the exposed timber trusses.

Old Main is a campus and community landmark. The renovated facility features reception and gathering areas and houses classrooms for many of the college's academic areas.

The lower level houses a 100-seat, auditorium-style lecture hall with sloped and tiered seating with good sightlines. Other new classrooms are outfitted with high technology.

Offices were moved out to use the space fully for learning.

Elements of Lighting Design

The exterior limestone walls were highlighted with grazing light to reveal their strong character and texture.

Inside the lecture hall, the stone walls and hardwood flooring presented a different lighting challenge. Ceiling clouds were created to incorporate downlights for task illumination and fluorescent strips for lighting above. A baffle was also added to shield the brightness of the fluorescent lights.

The light source in the lecture hall was shielded with a small strip of frosted acrylic to offer a finished look.

Side lighting was put in the lecture hall to encourage laptop use and note taking during lectures.

The jury said, "This project is warm and inviting. It peels everything away and gets down to the natural wood and stone. They did a very nice job."

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