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Innovation and Founders Halls
![The grand stairwell at Elon University's Innovation Hall includes diochromatic glass and hexagonal...](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N3_web.jpg 1998w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N3_web-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N3_web-170x128.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N3_web-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N3_web-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N3_web-600x450.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N3_web-800x601.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N3_web-1200x901.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N3_web-1600x1201.jpg 1600w)
Elon University’s new Innovation Quad will be a home for multiple fields of study, drawing students from all parts of campus into a dynamic, interdisciplinary atmosphere for learning and research. The first projects in the quad, Founders Hall and Innovation Hall, serve as an academic destination, housing both the Engineering Program and Department of Physics with labs and shared teaching spaces. Designed in fulfillment of the campus master plan completed by Ayers Saint Gross in 2016, the T-shaped complex supports the expansion of the engineering program and provides flexible teaching and learning spaces that will support the university for years to come.
Innovation Hall houses laboratory spaces for core engineering courses, bioinstrumentation, and environmental engineering research, as well as faculty offices and a variety of flexible classrooms for biophysics and physics.
![A classroom lab space in Elon University's Innovation Hall](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N5_web.jpg 2250w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N5_web-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N5_web-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N5_web-170x113.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N5_web-80x53.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N5_web-400x267.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N5_web-600x400.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N5_web-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N5_web-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N5_web-1600x1067.jpg 1600w)
![A classroom lab space in Elon University's Innovation Hall](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N22_web.jpg 2013w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N22_web-1536x1145.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N22_web-170x127.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N22_web-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N22_web-400x298.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N22_web-600x447.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N22_web-800x596.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N22_web-1200x894.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N22_web-1600x1192.jpg 1600w)
![Research lab space in Elon University's Innovation Hall](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N24_web.jpg 2000w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N24_web-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N24_web-170x128.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N24_web-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N24_web-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N24_web-600x450.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N24_web-800x600.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N24_web-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N24_web-1600x1200.jpg 1600w)
A grand stair lined with dichromatic glass connects Innovation Hall’s three-floors, making a statement while bringing in a sense of playful surprise. The intricate detailing continues with exposed structural steel bracing and beautifully crafted wood and steel stairs with hexagonal mesh railings.
![The grand stairwell for Elon University's Innovation Hall features sunlit diochromatic glass and...](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N27_web.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N27_web-1151x1536.jpg 1151w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N27_web-105x140.jpg 105w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N27_web-60x80.jpg 60w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N27_web-300x400.jpg 300w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N27_web-450x600.jpg 450w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N27_web-599x800.jpg 599w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N27_web-899x1200.jpg 899w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N27_web-1199x1600.jpg 1199w)
![A classroom lab in Elon University's Innovation Hall backs up to the building's grand stairwell.](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N12_web.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N12_web-1151x1536.jpg 1151w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N12_web-105x140.jpg 105w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N12_web-60x80.jpg 60w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N12_web-300x400.jpg 300w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N12_web-450x600.jpg 450w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N12_web-600x800.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N12_web-900x1200.jpg 900w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N12_web-1199x1600.jpg 1199w)
Founders Hall is designed to inspire engineering students and faculty to transform bold ideas into prototypes. The two-story building includes a main assembly hall that provides gathering and collaboration areas for students, where a grand stair can serve as both a social area for students and flexible lecture seating. Additional spaces include laboratories for engineering design, advanced prototypes, virtual reality research, and mechatronics.
![Elon University's Founder Hall includes a grand atrium with a large gathering stair.](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N19_web.jpg 1990w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N19_web-1536x1158.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N19_web-170x128.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N19_web-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N19_web-400x302.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N19_web-600x452.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N19_web-800x603.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N19_web-1200x905.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N19_web-1600x1206.jpg 1600w)
In developing the program, the team and the university worked together to think beyond current needs and plan for the evolution of how engineering and physics will be taught. Double-height assembly and maker spaces showcase the creativity and ingenuity of the students. The interior is designed to reflect the rigor and tectonics of innovation through raw material such as painted steel and exposed concrete floor accented by warm wood in the floor and ceiling.
A custom truss is designed to showcase engineering concepts of tension and compression, with the ceiling braces resisting tension while the steel struts resist compression.
![A view of the Founders Hall atrium at Elon University](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N7_web.jpg 1999w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N7_web-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N7_web-170x128.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N7_web-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N7_web-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N7_web-600x450.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N7_web-800x600.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N7_web-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N7_web-1600x1201.jpg 1600w)
![A double-height study space for students includes a custom chandelier made of acoustic materials.](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N9_web.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N9_web-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N9_web-105x140.jpg 105w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N9_web-60x80.jpg 60w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N9_web-300x400.jpg 300w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N9_web-450x600.jpg 450w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N9_web-600x800.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N9_web-900x1200.jpg 900w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N9_web-1201x1600.jpg 1201w)
![A maker space in Elon University's Founders Hall](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N11_web.jpg 2000w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N11_web-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N11_web-170x128.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N11_web-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N11_web-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N11_web-600x450.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N11_web-800x600.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N11_web-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N11_web-1600x1200.jpg 1600w)
The project amplifies Elon’s excellence in teaching by utilizing all spaces as adaptable learning environments supported by state-of-the-art technology, instruments, equipment, and infrastructure.
Designed to encourage creativity, collaboration, and innovation, the complex creates a vibrant academic culture of excitement, discovery, and innovation. The buildings have become a vehicle for recruitment and retention, promoting faculty and staff collaboration, and providing signature spaces focused on entrepreneurship.
![Virtual Reality classrooms in Elon University's Founders Hall](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N30_web.jpg 2000w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N30_web-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N30_web-170x128.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N30_web-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N30_web-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N30_web-600x450.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N30_web-800x600.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N30_web-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N30_web-1600x1200.jpg 1600w)
![Maker space in Elon University's Founders Hall](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N35_web.jpg 2241w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N35_web-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N35_web-2048x1371.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N35_web-170x114.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N35_web-80x54.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N35_web-400x268.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N35_web-600x402.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N35_web-800x535.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N35_web-1200x803.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N35_web-1600x1071.jpg 1600w)
The architecture is molded in the campus’s classical Georgian style, while utilizing massing to highlight and connect to major circulation paths that interconnect buildings across campus. The two wings connect facing a quad, and the architecture shifts depending on the side of the complex — keeping the campus identity while establishing forward momentum for future buildings in the innovation quad.
![The exterior of Elon University's Innovation Hall](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web.jpg 2550w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web-2048x1153.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web-170x96.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web-80x45.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web-400x225.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web-600x338.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web-800x451.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web-1200x676.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web-1600x901.jpg 1600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N37_web-2400x1352.jpg 2400w)
![Aerial shot of Elon University's Founder and Innovation Halls](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N18_web.jpg 2003w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N18_web-1536x1150.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N18_web-170x127.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N18_web-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N18_web-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N18_web-600x449.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N18_web-800x599.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N18_web-1200x899.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0021938_00_N18_web-1600x1198.jpg 1600w)