Tykeson Hall

By combining career and academic advising, the UO Tykeson Hall College and Careers Building offers an innovative way for students to navigate their future. Through the help of mentors and advisors, through exposure to the resources available to them, students gain the confidence and knowledge to pursue their passions and, ultimately, find meaningful work. Tykeson Hall also provides a much-needed home for the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), which previously had 42 departments scattered across the UO Campus. Students who feel drawn to the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences now have direct access to alumni, advisors, and each other. This pioneering project enables students to build the skills they need to adapt to an ever-accelerated, changing world and succeed.

Rowell Brokaw Architects, in collaboration with Office 52 and PLACE, took a lead role in the execution of the building. Rowell Brokaw worked with user groups, focus groups, and Campus Planning and Facilities Management to find solutions to complex site considerations, building organizations, and performance needs.

Situated between Johnson Hall and Chapman Hall, Tykeson Hall has a highly visible presence at the historic center of campus. By placing a 4-story building with a compact footprint on the existing parking lot, the south-facing, open space by Chapman Hall was preserved and now forms an outdoor room for campus events. The new building also created an opportunity to rethink the hardscape and landscape in the area and establish stronger connections between major pedestrian circulation routes. A key part of the project has been the development of flexible, interactive learning environments that allow one-on-one or small group advising. The CAS Commons, a large “living room,” encourages students, advisors, and faculty to intermingle on both formal and informal occasions. This room can be closed off acoustically, while remaining visually accessible and inviting to a student passing by.

As part of the UO’s campus-wide initiative to hold energy use at net zero, Tykeson Hall is 35% more efficient than current Oregon Energy Codes and meets LEED Gold building standards. Daylighting, natural ventilation, radiant floors, chilled beams, and a high-performance building envelope help to lower the total energy consumption of the building.