With a rapidly growing student population, Appalachian State University sought to renovate the existing 1960s bookstore and expand the student union with a new gathering space. In this phased project, we transformed the facades of both the bookstore and the adjacent student union, connecting the buildings and creating an attractive new architectural composition on the main quad.

The addition to ASU’s existing Plemmons Student Union, known as the Summit Trail Solarium, features a passive solar south-facing garden environment, ambient water fountains, and sky-lit reading areas. The sweeping solarium addition now serves as a refuge for students from the cold mountain winters.