Built in 1907, McKinley Hall is the second oldest building at American University and the new home of the School of Communications with programs in journalism, public communication, and film and media arts. Our design for the renovation and addition aimed to provide a professional state-of-the-art setting for students and faculty while also creating a new, modern facility that is integrated with, and complementary to, the existing McKinley Hall building.

A contemporary façade juxtaposed with the neoclassical design of the original McKinley Building symbolically opens the School of Communication to American University’s main quad, while also reflecting the changing face of media today. By creating a new entrance plaza on the northeast side of the building, the design allows more direct access and visibility to the heart of the University campus.