TUCSON, AZ — The Student Success District at the University of Arizona received the 2023 National American Institute of Architects (AIA) Interior Architecture Award, the institute’s awards program celebrating the most innovative interior spaces across the United States. This year’s AIA jury selected winning submissions that make their mark on the cities, places, and spaces where people live and work.

“This project, on the University of Arizona’s Tucson campus, unites the school’s essential yet siloed student support services," said a representative from AIA. "While comprehensive in nature, involving campus planning, exterior site improvements, and architectural interventions, the project is rooted in transformation and the connection of interior spaces that offer elevated experiences aimed at nurturing tomorrow’s leaders.”

Across academic libraries, there is a growing trend: co-locating various kinds of student support units to provide a comprehensive student experience. Designed by The Miller Hull Partnership in association with Poster Mirto McDonald, the Student Success District takes this concept to a new level in the renovation of the Main Library, the Bear Down Gymnasium, the Albert B. Weaver Science-Engineering Library, and the construction of the new Center for Academic Success. The project transforms a disconnected cluster of buildings into an interconnected and cohesive district, providing a centralized point of support for the entire student body.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the AIA for our work at the University of Arizona," said Ben Dalton, AIA, Miller Hull Partner. "Our goal was to create a central place on campus by unifying the district’s buildings while honoring their individuality, much like the students that inhabit them.”

The entire Student Success District — from the individual buildings to their contours — is dedicated to every aspect of a student’s well-being. The holistic approach and flexible design will allow for shifts in trends and functionality, benefiting students for years to come.

Size (total): 262,000 square feet
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Client: The University of Arizona
Prime Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP
Local Architect: Poster Mirto McDonald
Contractor: Sundt Construction
Landscape Architect: Ten Eyck Landscape Architects
Civil Engineer: Cypress Civil Development
Structural Engineer: Martin White Griffis Structural Engineers
MEP Engineer: Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
Lighting Consultant: Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
Graphics and Wayfinding Consultant: Mayer Reed
FFE (Libraries): The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP
FFE (Bear Down & Center for Academic Success): Andie Zelno