Originally constructed in 1968 following a tornado that caused extensive damage across the Washburn University campus, Henderson Learning Center was shaped by the need for resilience. Its heavy concrete structure and limited glazing reflected the realities of rebuilding after the disaster. For decades, the building has served the School of Business and College of Arts and Sciences as a central academic facility.
The renovation and expansion, which will rename the building Advisors Excel Hall, takes a different approach to its relationship with the campus. New openings and expanded glazing will bring natural light deep into the building and strengthen visual connections to the surrounding campus. The design also gives greater visibility to the academic departments within while creating more opportunities for interaction among students and faculty.
Redesigned classrooms, breakout areas, study spaces, and shared gathering spaces will support both formal instruction and informal collaboration. Improvements to circulation and connections throughout the building will make the existing structure easier to navigate and create a more open and welcoming academic environment.
The transformation of Henderson Learning Center into Advisors Excel Hall builds on the resilience of the original structure while adapting it to support the next generation of teaching, learning, and campus life at Washburn University.
