University of Missouri | Reynolds Journalism Institute

The first public education institution west of the Mississippi River, The University of Missouri, was founded in 1839 in Columbia, Missouri. The land-grant school now has over 33,000 students and 13,000 employees, making it the largest university in the state. Their School of Journalism was the first in the world, founded by Walter Williams in 1908, and now functions in conjunction with the Reynolds Journalism Institute to give students real-life journalism and advertising experience.

In the building are a large variety of classrooms, lecture halls, computer labs, dining spaces, collaboration areas, and a library. It was important that the furniture was comfortable, yet also facilitated creative group work as the School of Journalism is highly collaborative. A room called ‘the fishbowl’ pictured below is one of the most popular spots on campus for focusing on getting projects done due to the flexibility of the arrangement of tables and chairs as well as the abundance of natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows surrounding the room (hence the name fishbowl!). It is one of the most toured places at the university and a place they love to show off!

PROJECT LOCATION
Columbia, Missouri

COMPLETION DATE
April 2012

ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN FIRM
SFS Architecture

GENERAL CONTRACTORS
Kozeny-Wagner Construction
Sircal Contracting

PHOTOGRAPHY
Michael Robinson Photography