Construction Education Success Center
St. Louis architecture, planning, urban design and interiors firm Trivers recently completed a two-story, 9,000-square-foot expansion of Missouri State University‘s Kemper Hall—home of the School of Construction, Design and Project Management. Designed in partnership with the university and the College of Business, the new Construction Education Success Center increases capacity for more construction management majors, connects students with industry-relevant tools and credentials, and fosters a sense of community within Kemper Hall.
The Construction Education Success Center boasts a 3,200-square-foot, double-height training lab nearly 30 feet high, which will enable students to gain experience with full-scale construction activities such as aerial lifts and crane operation. It also features student collaboration areas, modern classrooms and restrooms, and outdoor balcony spaces.
“The environment students are in plays a vital role in how they learn, especially in hands-on fields like construction,” said Trivers Associate Principal Ashley Hoolihan, AIA, who holds master’s degrees in both architecture and construction management from Washington University in St. Louis. “Trivers specializes in creating active learning environments, and this project gave us the opportunity to design a space that not only supports technical skill-building but also fosters teamwork and innovation, providing a strong foundation for future construction managers.”
Located at the northwest corner of Kemper Hall, the new center also harmonizes with the existing building’s design.
“The transparent, light-filled addition was designed to complement the original brutalist structure,” Hoolihan said. “Glass elements in the lobby create a visual connection to the first building, while the double-height training lab features a translucent wall system that brings in ambient daylight.”
The completion of the Construction Education Success Center builds on Trivers’ ongoing collaboration with Missouri State University to design spaces that inspire learning and innovation across campus.
“This project helps us in becoming an institution of choice for students,” said Richard Gebken, PhD, head of Missouri State University’s construction management department.
“For the first time, our students have a true home—a place designed to incorporate architectural features that reveal structural and mechanical systems, integrate sustainability and environmental lessons, and create flexible, interactive spaces. The building itself is an interactive classroom that encourages observation, critical thinking and hands-on discovery.”
A grand opening ceremony was held September 29, 2025. The $9.6 million project was made possible by the MoExcels Workforce Initiative along with private donations.
About Trivers
Trivers, an architecture, planning, urban design and interiors firm, was founded in 1975 on values that still characterize it today: creating architecture of lasting positive consequence. By establishing a reputation for thoughtful design that responds to context, Trivers’ early focus on historic renovation and adaptive reuse grew to include ground-up construction.
https://www.techedmagazine.com/category/news-by-industry/construction-education/