THP provided structural engineering and façade consulting services for Western Kentucky University’s 113,000 SF, $74.4 million College of Business. Designed as a highly visible campus landmark, the facility includes flexible classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, a two-story atrium, a large auditorium, monumental stairs, and a signature elliptical copper-clad dome. The structure utilizes a steel braced frame with slab-on-metal deck and spread footings to support a variety of academic and gathering spaces.

A key design challenge involved developing the dome’s unique geometry, where the outer shell and interior lining required different shapes. THP worked closely with the construction manager and specialty consultants to evaluate multiple structural concepts and develop an efficient, constructible solution. Additional structural challenges included long-span monumental stairs with no visible center supports and column-free spaces designed to accommodate operable partitions with stringent deflection requirements.