Long thought of as the connective heart of Cornell’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, the Sibley Dome bridges the east and west wings of Sibley Hall and anchors the north side of the Arts Quad. Built in 1902, the Sibley Dome began as a lecture hall and museum space and later served many other purposes for the college but recently became underutilized. WORKac’s adaptation of the historic building celebrates its rich history while giving it new life and a place for students, faculty, and staff to come together.

The dome consists of interior and exterior shells joined by steel frames. The steel-plated exterior dome—visible across the Arts Quad—will be repainted and restored. The interior dome will be replaced and will restore the dome’s glass oculus to bring light back into the space. A new 100-seat auditorium is suspended below. The angled underside allows the original double-height space between the second and third floors to be maintained. Surrounding the auditorium will be a collaborative commons, including small, medium, and large nooks that are open but contained and quiet enough to facilitate collaboration.

Below the auditorium, the second floor will provide flexible studio spaces for the Department of Design Tech and the Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities. The space will include an exhibition wall, pantry area and open and flexible design studios, while preserving historic details. A large new window will replace a brick facade on the back of the building providing Mui Ho Center for Cities with more natural light and views of Fall Creek.