Western Kentucky University Amy and David Chandler Hall

Business education is evolving rapidly, and the spaces that support it are under pressure to keep up. At the same time, business schools are competing for attention and relevance while adapting to new teaching and learning models. They must prepare students for a professional world shaped by collaboration and real-world experience, while also creating environments that feel welcoming and accessible to all, including first-generation students.

Chandler Hall pairs a classical exterior, anchored by an Ionic colonnade and copper dome, with a modern interior organized around flexibility and connection. A three-story open stair links adaptable classrooms, faculty offices, and collaboration zones, creating a continuous flow across every level. From AR/VR simulation suites and a Bloomberg trading lab to coworking areas and quiet retreats, a range of environments reflects the professional world while supporting diverse learning styles and breaking down barriers between students and faculty.

Chandler Hall has quickly become a campus destination—a place students actively seek out, spend time in, and leave better prepared for what comes next. First-generation students gain confidence, faculty and peers connect across disciplines, and the boundary between academic and professional life dissolves. The project deepens Gensler’s campus-wide partnership with WKU, building on the award-winning Commons at Helm Library and reinforcing a shared commitment to spaces where ambition and opportunity meet.