EDA Architects and CannonDesign have designed Lassonde Studios at the University of Utah located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Text from CannonDesign: The University of Utah is redefining entrepreneurial education with the creation of Lassonde Studios. The innovative building houses more than 400 unique student residences and 20,000 sf of “garage” space where any student on campus can build a prototype, attend an event or launch a company. The space offers 3D printers and room to build prototypes on a 24/7 basis.

A collaborative process between the design team, university leadership, student housing, business school representatives, and members of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute led to extensive design experimentation and the eventual creation of this new type of learning building. Flexible spaces like the startup “garage” space allow the building to be as nimble as a startup with a flexible grid system allowing the university to reconfigure rooms and expand the garage as student needs change.

With its first full year complete in Spring 2017, Lassonde Studios has helped launch 328 student-led startup teams (more than 3X the number launched in 2016). These companies span medical technology, energy, retail, VR and more, and the university credits the building as the driver for this increased innovation. To date, the project has been profiled by the New York Times, Business Insider and Fast Company among others.

Design: EDA Architects, CannonDesign
EDA Architects Team: Amanda Jones, NCIDQ, Nick Lorenzo, AIA, John Shuttleworth, AIA, Ammee Snyder, AIA, Jonathan Hickerson, LEED AP
CannonDesign Team: Mehrdad Yazdani, Yan Krymsky
Owner & Consultants: Troy D’Ambrosio, Execuitve Director, Kathy Hajeb, U of U Lassone Director, Barbara Rembsburg, U of U Housing & Residential Director, Tory North, Gramoll Construction,
Photographer: Jonathan Hickerson, Timothy Hursley