Engineered for its Place in the World
The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois overlooks Lake Michigan. Situated just north of the Windy City of Chicago, the campus is tranquil in the summer when cool breezes waft in from the lake. At times, however, the weather can be ferocious – icy, blustery, wet and turbulent.
That's why, when designing the school's new state-of-the-art education facility, the architects specified that the structure be engineered for its place in the world and built to withstand the area's extreme climatic conditions.
The five-story, 415,000-square-foot Kellogg Global Hub, which opened in 2017, is a spatially complex building consisting of four wings that pinwheel around stacked atriums. Curving walls and canopies, inspired by the lake's waves, reflect the shoreline contours and the nearby rippling lagoon.
Translucent vertical fins add to the building's sense of place and its fluidity, while reddish-brown Ipé soffits lend warmth to its cool blue-green façade. The wood's warm natural tones complement the glass
Frequently asked questions
What wood species was used for the soffits at the Kellogg Global Hub?+
Reddish-brown Ipé was used for the soffits, lending warmth to the building's cool blue-green façade and complementing the glass.
How big is the Kellogg Global Hub at Northwestern University?+
The Kellogg Global Hub is a five-story, 415,000-square-foot education facility that opened in 2017.
What is the architectural design of the Kellogg Global Hub?+
The building is spatially complex, consisting of four wings that pinwheel around stacked atriums. Curving walls and canopies, inspired by Lake Michigan's waves, reflect the shoreline contours and nearby rippling lagoon.
Why was the Kellogg Global Hub engineered for extreme weather?+
The campus overlooks Lake Michigan just north of Chicago, where weather can be ferocious — icy, blustery, wet and turbulent. Architects specified that the structure be engineered for its place in the world and built to withstand the area's extreme climatic conditions.
Where is the Kellogg School of Management located?+
The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago, overlooking Lake Michigan.
What design elements give the Kellogg Global Hub its sense of place?+
Translucent vertical fins add to the building's sense of place and fluidity, while curving walls and canopies inspired by Lake Michigan's waves echo the shoreline contours and nearby lagoon.