October 14, 2021

Weil Hall receives Honorable Mention at AIA Central States

Weil Hall brings the disciplines of art, design, and architecture together in a shared environment and strengthens the Sam Fox School's identity as a leader in education, innovative research, and creative practice. | Photo © James Ewing/JBSA

AIA Central States has recognized Anabeth and John Weil Hall, part of Washington University in St. Louis' East End Transformation and home of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, with an honorable mention award at the 2021 AIA Central States Region Excellence in Design Awards.  
 
Jury comments noted the building's internal connections and light-filled spaces, "it is a study in translucency and light. It is thoughtful and articulate, full of connections," as well as the precision of the project, "there is no part of the space that is overlooked.”

The commons has sweeping views of the campus and sculpture garden. It is a "living room" for Sam Fox School students and other University departments. | Photo © James Ewing/JBSA

Weil Hall is a new art and architecture building for the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, offering 80,670 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art graduate studios, classrooms, and digital fabrication spaces within a collaborative, loft-like environment. The project challenged school faculty and the design team to develop a program and building organization that would spur collaboration, both structured and incidental, and provide world-class facilities that inspire experimentation for students across multiple disciplines. Students now enjoy flexible new studios and shared spaces, inspiring one another and collaborating across disciplinary boundaries.

A 30-foot green wall, inspired by the Missouri and Mississippi rivers which flow nearby, forms a biophilic centerpiece for Weil Hall's sky-lit court. The central court provides a shared "quiet" space unlike any other at WashU for individual work, informal discussions, or larger meetings. | Photo © James Ewing/JBSA

Read more about the East End Transformation project.