Pomfret Dining Expansion and Addition
Client: University of Arkansas
Time Period: 2017 – 2019
Role: Architect
Size: 34,150 SF Renovation + 8,350 SF Addition
MBL Architecture was tasked with renovating and expanding the dining and kitchen facilities at Pomfret Hall, the University of Arkansas’ largest on-campus residence hall. The mid-century building, which first opened in 1967, was in dire need of operational and aesthetic upgrades.
The new addition on the East side of the building addresses the dated façade by creating a copper, brick, and glass pavilion that respectfully nods to the building’s mid-century roots while looking modern and distinct. A new elevator along this eastern edge brings the original 1967 split-level plan into ADA compliance. The transformation along the main entry off the iconic Stadium Drive also helps transform an under-utilized, left-over exterior space into a beautiful, tree-filled stepped courtyard. Native beam rock bleachers replace a harsh retaining wall and make up the steep grade change between Stadium Drive and Pomfret, simultaneously creating an alternative pedestrian connection between the two.
Inside, the renovation brings new life to the dining room, as well as the Great Hall gathering space. New, period accurate, whimsical light fixtures fill the spaces with light. Acoustic treatment applied to the underside of the concrete waffle slab ceiling solves key auditory challenges while providing a slightly-textured-yet-homogeneous finish that re-contextualizes the iconic mid-century structure into a more contemporary setting. Interior glazing, tile, bronze aluminum curtain wall, and period sensitive wood laminate millwork all help bring the renovation into the 21st century while respectfully addressing the sensitivities of the mid-century period when the building first came to life.
