Preliminary design concepts for Daniel K. Inouye Center unveiled

The University of Hawaii Wednesday unveiled preliminary design concepts for the future Daniel K. Inouye Center for Democratic Leadership, which will be located at the current Henke Hall site on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. The concepts, which incorporated input from a diverse group of public-private partners, community leaders, and university campus experts, can be viewed online at go.hawaii.edu/3O.

The preliminary concepts demonstrated design options to meet the current and future needs of UH Manoa students, the campus, as well as the surrounding community. Included in the presentation were a variety of space options for student innovation zones, civic engagement areas and archival preservation sections.

“The DKI Center is an excellent example of the dynamic possibilities that can arise out of a public-private partnership,” said UH Interim President David Lassner. “The features and functionalities envisioned for the center, particularly the student innovation zones and civic engagement areas, will create exciting, new learning environments that will encourage and foster meaningful discussions on a variety of topics. When completed, the center will play a key role in UH’s commitment to providing opportunities that transform lives for students and their families through higher education and scholarship.”

The preliminary design concepts are part of the predesign phase for the center. During this phase, key parameters and objectives of the design are researched and defined, including site analyses, functions, room types and systems.

“Although conceptual in nature at this point, Clifford Planning & Architecture and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners are excited to share with you the initial design ideas,” Janine S. Clifford, the project’s architect of record and principal of local firm Clifford Planning & Architecture. “These ideas incorporate many of the form and functional requirements that were raised during our community-based workshop for the center, and integrate them into an exciting design concept that maximizes unique sustainable features such as the use of trade winds for natural ventilation. At the conclusion of this phase, the project will enter the formal design process and work on actual schematic design will begin.”

A final design plan, which may incorporate features from various preliminary concepts, will be developed and presented for additional feedback at a later date.