University of Connecticut, Hartford. School of Business.

In the heart of downtown Hartford, our proposal for the University of Connecticut’s School of Business reimagines academic space as a vibrant urban experience, one that reflects the energy of the city while creating moments of connection, collaboration, and community.

At the center of the design is a multi-story courtyard, a vertical commons that visually links the building’s levels and becomes the heart of student life. From every floor, there’s a sense of openness and exchange, reinforcing the idea that learning happens everywhere, not just in classrooms.

On the ground floor, the courtyard extends into a covered public plaza. An inviting, flexible space designed to encourage informal gathering and spontaneous conversation. More than just a threshold, this plaza blurs the line between campus and city, fostering a sense of inclusion and creating a welcoming environment for students, faculty, and the wider Hartford community.

Set within a dynamic urban fabric, the project is rooted in the belief that academic spaces should inspire and energize. This proposal offers not only a place to study but a place to connect—to each other, to the city, and to the future of business education.