Rolla Building

The Rolla Building at the Missouri University of Science and Technology posed quite a design challenge for PWA. This 125-year-old building had been modified over the years to the point of inefficiency. There are people who might be ready to relegate the graceful structure to the wrecker’s hammer, but there are those who can recognize value and quality (along with potential) in an older building. PWA has this ability.

To give this historic building a new life, the entire interior was gutted, down to the basement floor. Entire floors were removed, and some were raised or lowered to make room for today’s technologies and safety codes. New stairs, elevators, air conditioning, and other amenities that make today’s buildings functional and comfortable were incorporated into this renovation.

This nineteenth-century building is now prepared to proudly face its third century of service. Many of today’s buildings may not be able to match this record, which adds support to the old axiom – they don’t build them like they used to!