A building that once stood as an enduring tribute to modernism – colloquially named for the architect and designer who shaped its design – has once again been reshaped for a new era. The Matsumoto wing of Brooks Hall, named after former faculty member George Matsumoto and designed in the mid-fifties, has a refreshed first floor that connects the college’s internal mission with the outside environment.

“When you think about the building it’s added on to, the Matsumoto Wing is a powerful statement for modernism. Attached to a white marble-columned neoclassical building, it was meant to exhibit the ideals of modernism and the school’s progressive, optimistic mission. It was a statement piece,” says David Hill, head of the School of Architecture. 

The building was the first glass and aluminum curtain wall in North Carolina, freeing itself from heavy, load-bearing walls to offer second and third floor studios flooded with natural light and operable windows that drew in fresh air. 

Prior to its renovation, the first floor space of the Matsumoto wing felt dark and cramped. Too many students had tried to utilize a space that has housed studios, the materials lab, and collaborative space over the years. When it was built, nearby Kamphoefner Hall didn’t exist, nor did the robust, rich courtyard that has become a central hub for academic life. 

When approaching the project, Interim Dean Sharon Joines knew she would have to lobby hard for the space. While it had a relatively small footprint for a campus project, its potential for impact for the college far outweighed its size. 

The space had a lot of challenges going in – the original wing wasn’t designed for HVAC use, and so used recirculated and chilled air throughout all three floors. “We had three goals going into this project: install an efficient HVAC system with plans for the whole wing, design a space to support the college’s growing research needs, and showcase research in the college community through the built environment,” said Joines. 

Now, when visitors enter the space, natural light floods the space through a large window wall, linking the interior with the nearby exterior courtyard, a hub for student activity for the college. The renovation removes the visual and physical barriers that once separated interior from exterior, drawing the outdoors in and making the courtyard feel less like a separate place and more like an extension of the work happening inside. 

“Education has changed, technology has changed, and the place itself has changed,” says Zach Hoffman, principal and architect at in situ studio, the firm of record for the project. “The project required a reinterpretation of the culture of the collaborative studio, the thoughtful incorporation of new and future mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, and the reestablishment of the ‘front door.’”

The new space is highly flexible, combining research space, collaborative areas and dedicated labs. Health and wellness were taken into account, maximizing natural light to boost productivity and creativity. “The space also aligns with modern pedagogy,” Joines adds. “Design education has shifted from solitary desk work to collaborative, team-based problem solving. This new floor plan with zones for collaboration and break areas provides students and faculty with the infrastructure needed for modern, interactive learning.”

Designed by Those Who Know It Best

The renovation was entrusted to in situ studio, an architecture firm with a uniquely personal connection to the college. Matt Griffith ‘02 and Zach Hoffman ‘14 are principals at in situ studio and alumni of the architecture program. They also serve as professors of the practice, returning each year to teach and mentor the next generation of designers in the same building their work now inhabits.

One of their main goals in approaching this project was “don’t embarrass the family,” Hoffman jokes. The team had big shoes to fill, reimagining a space designed by one of the best architects working with one of the most competent firms in the Triangle. “The good news for us was that the architectural “bones”—the ideas about space and architectural clarity—were already there. We just needed to follow and reinterpret those rules for the ground floor,” he adds. 

Those multifaceted identities of former student, current educator and architectural practitioner helped manifest the final design. “It’s a testament to the importance of what we do as architects, what Matsumoto accomplished, and what is taught at our school. It is our responsibility to connect the past to the future in the built environment,” Hoffman says. 

Champions at the university level were integral into transforming this project from plans on paper to a refreshed building. Assistant Vice Chancellor and University Architect Lisa Johnson was integral in understanding the importance of the project for the college culture and neighborhood. “She had a knack for asking the right questions at the right time, helping us make difficult decisions that will benefit the college for decades to come,” Joines said. 

In this case, the clear system for structure, daylighting and architectural delight established in 1955 is now overlaid with a new layer—a strategy for the integration of MEP systems on the ground floor that can now be adopted floor-to-floor in future renovations.

Built for the Work Ahead

The transformed first floor now houses three distinct but complementary programs that together define a new focus for the college.

Research and collaborative space anchors the floor with flexible environments, meant to be used by teams working through complex problems, by researchers pursuing questions that don’t fit neatly into a single studio and by faculty and students whose best thinking happens in conversation.

The K–12 Design Lab opens the school’s resources and culture to a broader community, creating a dedicated home for the programs that bring younger students into contact with design thinking. For some, it may be their first foray into design, and a well-designed space can help unlock the possibility of how they interpret their world. 

A central gallery rounds out the floor as a flexible event and exhibition venue, capable of hosting community gatherings. Positioned between the more specialized research and education spaces, the gallery serves as a social heart of the floor. 

Together, these programs make the first floor of the Matsumoto wing what the College of Design’s public face should be: a demonstration that design changes how people work, learn and connect.

A Much Needed Change 

While the building Matsumoto designed in the 1950s began as a shiny, new object, 70 years have changed its focus. Students have worn it down, technology has advanced and the way we learn and work have changed. 

“Some buildings cannot keep pace with time,” Hill adds. “But the good ones are timeless and resilient because they can have several lives, bending towards the present without breaking from the past. This new renovation breathes life into Matsumoto’s legacy. It preserves the visionary and repairs what time has worn, and helps advance the cultural, intellectual and creative lifeblood of great design education at NC State.”

Hoffman echoes that sentiment, encouraging users to consider the context in which these buildings were built. What are baseline expectations today may not have existed in the p FCC ast, and considering a building outdated because it doesn’t meet unexpected needs can be an unfair assessment. 

“Despite all of this, and 70 years of elapsed time, the Matsumoto Wing uniquely sits as an incredibly current building. Its modernist structural clarity results in spatial flexibility, a minimal reliance on artificial light, and comfortable natural ventilation strategies,” he notes.

A Grand Opening

The celebration of the renovation’s completion carried an added layer of meaning. The grand opening was also the occasion to honor Dean Mark Hoversten, who, after a decade of leadership, announced his return to the faculty. Since his appointment as dean, he has brought a student-focused approach to leadership, interdisciplinary initiatives and experiential education for College of Design students. Hoversten was instrumental in increasing the college’s studio, research and lab space, the renovation of several labs, and increasing accessibility to the college.

While the educational and research needs of the college are always changing, Dean Hoversten has helped shepherd the college’s growth for the next century. The college celebrated the hard work on this space with a reception honoring the dean, utilizing the space to display a gallery of Mark’s artwork and timeline of the college’s achievements during his tenure.

“I am truly honored by the outpouring of support shown at this event,” Hoversten stated. “This project truly reflects our college – not only the hard work and vision from all of those involved with the project, from facilities, construction, design and leadership, but also the effect that design can have on our learning and working environment. I hope this new space reflects a renewed rigor in research within our college and prepares our students for collaborative learning for years to come.”