Every student at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) in Syracuse is familiar with the historic Louis Marshall Memorial Hall. Revitalizing this iconic 1933 facility for 21st-century learning, the 93,000-square-foot, four-story building preserves its architectural beauty and now serves students more comfortably with less impact on the environment.
The project is the first State University Construction Fund (SUCF) project designed to meet New York’s Deep Energy Retrofit goals. The renovated building has earned LEED Gold certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. The project, designed by Chiang | O’Brien Architects, also has received numerous awards for successfully modernizing Marshall Hall’s sustainability, accessibility and functionality, while protecting its enduring architectural legacy.
“It’s the second-oldest building on campus. Teaching methods have changed,” said cofounder and president of Chiang | O’Brien Architects, Grace Chiang, AIA, ASID, NCARB. “The building has good bones and has had small renovations over the years, but it was a little tired, worn and needed an upgrade.”
Chiang worked closely with decisionmakers at SUCF, SUNY ESF, and the New York State Historic Preservation Office. LeChase Construction Services served as the project’s construction manager and Pike Construction Services as general contractor. Pike Construction’s team was responsible for clearing the existing openings and installing more than 120 new windows by Kolbe Windows & Doors.
Historic Façade, Future Inspiration
SUNY ESF’s mission revolves around environmental stewardship and sustainable design. Its students study ecosystems across 25,000 acres of research lands throughout New York, while the Syracuse campus serves as the heart of its academic life. On the southern edge of the main quadrangle, Marshall Hall houses more than 50% of the campus’ classrooms, landscape architecture studios, faculty research space and offices, and a large auditorium. Shared huddle rooms, meeting spaces and support spaces are dispersed throughout the building.
The renovation optimized space for the building occupants and serves the entire campus. “Each floor is designed with unique surprises and inviting details that captivate and inspire,” described Chiang. “This project not only preserves the historic architecture of the original structure, but also introduces modern elements such as clean lines, abundant natural light and pops of vibrant color, creating a contemporary academic hub that enhances the campus experience.”
The symmetrical façade and layout, columns and pediment are key features defining the structure’s neoclassical design. Evenly spaced within the façade, tall vertical stretches of windows emphasize the balanced, classic architecture. Chiang explained, “The windows were a huge part of the project and enabled the renovation approach to bring in so much natural light.”
The windows were a huge part of the project and enabled the renovation approach to bring in so much natural light.
Light, Views and Learning
The grand, arch-topped windows add an eye-catching flourish to the fully renovated and refurbished auditorium, now with improved sightlines and flexible functionality. Miniature versions of the auditorium’s curved windows appoint its former balcony, which was converted to serve as faculty meeting space.
Providing essential daylight and outdoor views, the windows also connect the students with their academic studies of the natural world and their campus. Even from the basement classrooms, students can gaze outside at the mature trees and surrounding landscape.
The new windows reinstate their role as defining architectural elements, reinforcing both the building’s historic identity and the college’s environmental ethos. Daylight, views and visual comfort enhance learning and support occupant well-being--values aligned with ESF’s research on the relationship between human health and the natural environment.
All are Welcome
Founded in Ithaca, New York, Chiang | O’Brien Architects has a national reputation for designing thoughtful, human-centered academic environments. On a personal level, Chiang noted, “I’ve always loved creating things for other people to enjoy. Being an architect where I get to design and make spaces and buildings for people is amazing.”
The firm also represents the growing presence of diverse leadership in architecture as a certified New York State Minority- and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE). “Almost all of our business is in higher education with a number of our projects either directly for the SUNY colleges or for the State University Construction Fund and they have a very strong MWBE program,” shared Chiang.
“It’s really important to support diversity--whether it’s racial diversity or gender diversity,” she continued. “In architecture, there just aren’t enough women and racial minorities. I think it’s important to encourage that. I think it’s great that the State is supporting these initiatives and really has this robust program to do that.”
She added, “I would never want to be selected just because of my race or my gender. I always want to be selected because of my qualifications. I do think that, if it comes down to a tie or it’s really close, that we have a little bit of an advantage by having the MWBE certification.”
Founding Principles, Responsible Stewards
Marshall Hall was the second building to be completed on campus. The building’s namesake, Louis Marshall, was instrumental in founding SUNY ESF, and the first president of the College Board of Trustees. He was a renowned constitutional lawyer responsible for generating interest in preserving the Adirondacks. His son graduated from SUNY ESF and became a noted conservationist.
During the 1930s, SUNY’s facilities were designed by the State’s commissioner of architecture, William E. Haugaard. Like many of the buildings he designed, Marshall Hall is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
SUNY has grown to be one of the largest public higher education institutions in the country with an enrollment exceeding 400,000. SUCF supports that growth through its mission to expedite the construction, acquisition, reconstruction, rehabilitation and improvement of SUNY’s infrastructure and nearly 2,000 buildings. SUCF also prioritizes energy efficiency opportunities and being responsible stewards of state-appropriated funds.
Distinctive and Inclusive
Working with SUCF, Chiang | O’Brien Architects proposed a comprehensive design blending the original structure with a new addition on the west elevation. Along with an extensive renovation to the existing building, the all-glass tower expansion allowed for an elevator and stairway to improve ADA-compliant accessibility for the campus’ steep, multi-level terrain.
The architectural team provided detailed designs and documentation to SUCF for submission to the New York State Historic Preservation Office for review. The direction provided was to stress the distinctions. “They wanted it to be very clear what was historic and what was new addition,” said Chiang. “The desire was to bring Marshall Hall’s exterior appearance back to how it originally was.”
Marshall Hall’s resulting renovation intentionally presents a stark contrast between the newly constructed all-glass circulation tower and the historic façade of brick, limestone and hung windows.
Renewed Integrity, Restored Performance
Through the decades, Marshall Hall’s original wood windows had been replaced with all-aluminum units that deteriorated with age. “They weren’t the heftiest, but they were huge,” Chiang recalled. “Over time, the window sash racked and became inoperable. I couldn’t open them. They were all out of whack and didn’t function well anymore.”
The architects recognized that replacing the windows was essential not only for energy efficiency, but also for restoring the building’s architectural integrity. “In our initial discussions, the client originally thought it might not be necessary to replace the windows. We suggested that we could find a much better performing, more historically accurate window that would also improve energy efficiency,” said Chiang. “They agreed. All the windows in the building on all four floors, basement and sub-basement were replaced.”
To meet all the project’s myriad objectives, “we had to write a very tight spec to get the quality we wanted within the available budget,” explained Chiang. “It was equally important to find a product that looked as much as possible like the original wood windows and still achieve the performance. The project was competitively bid, so a minimum of three different manufacturers had to be included in the specifications. We found there are a limited number of manufacturers who make high-performance, aluminum-clad wood windows. We had never worked with Kolbe before, but they were willing to meet our requirements.”
We found there are a limited number of manufacturers who make high-performance, aluminum-clad wood windows. We had never worked with Kolbe before, but they were willing to meet our requirements.
Balanced Appearance, Intentional Choices
Kolbe Windows & Doors supplied samples of its Ultra Series windows, which offered the architects customization and met the project’s performance requirements. The carefully crafted, aluminum-clad, wood-framed windows faithfully represent the original historical aesthetics.
Aligned with the building’s neoclassical symmetry and large openings, many of the windows were up to 9 feet tall and mulled together in pairs spanning more than 7 feet wide. For the single-unit bays, several individual windows were nearly 5 feet wide. The hung windows were proportionally scaled, such as in large, multi-segment configurations for the auditorium and smaller sizes for the basement. On the sub-basement, fixed windows reflect an awning or hopper style, typical of design and construction in the 1930s.
To match the existing exterior, the windows’ aluminum-clad exteriors are finished in a custom “Marshall Hall Green” color using a durable 70% fluoropolymer coating. The interior trim is fir wood with a clear finish. The natural texture and warmth of the wood complement the restored wood floors and casework in the renovated classrooms. The wood also was certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
® as sustainably sourced and responsibly managed.
“We used Kolbe’s windows throughout the building,” reiterated Chiang. “They appear uniform, but their hardware is customized to make some fixed and some operable. Primarily, the second-floor windows in the faculty offices have operable windows.”
Where operable windows were installed, matte black spoon locks and hardware complete the traditional appearance. Kolbe windows’ performance divided lites reinforce the building’s architectural history. A beveled-profile grid visually segments the glass into smaller rectangles, reminiscent of pre-World War II windows, but with modern-day performance.
“I think they look great and reflect the spirit of the original 1933 windows,” praised Chiang.
Enhanced for Energy Efficiency
Marshall Hall’s transformation is perhaps most evident in how the transparency and natural light animate the building from within. “The windows definitely make the space,” continued Chiang. “We tore out almost all the solid walls in the corridors. Now, it’s almost all glass. From the windows, including the transoms and sidelites to the interior glass walls--it floods the interior with so much light. It also saves energy because you hardly have to turn on an electric light during the day.”
From the windows, including the transoms and sidelites to the interior glass walls--it floods the interior with so much light. It also saves energy because you hardly have to turn on an electric light during the day.
Windows with high-performance, insulated glazing and FSC
®-certified wood support the project’s LEED Gold criteria and its Deep Energy Retrofit target of 50% energy reduction relative to its baseline consumption. “We had stringent requirements in the specifications,” said Chiang. The specifications listed a maximum, whole-window solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.25 per the National Fenestration Rating Council’s NFRC 200 standard and a thermal transmittance U-factor of 0.25 Btu/sq.ft.•h•deg F per NFRC 100.
Kolbe’s windows are double-glazed, solar low-E with ThermaPlus coating to block the sunlight’s ultraviolet rays without compromising on natural light. Fixed windows, tight seals and proper installation ensure the windows perform as intended, bolstering the building’s efficient operation and saving utility costs. The building’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems were replaced with high-efficiency equipment.
Collaboration and Client Satisfaction
Chiang | O’Brien Architects’ success reflects the firm’s collaborative ethos, leaving little room for self-centered egos. This culture and camaraderie nurture a collective effort with a “light touch,” according to Chiang.
“Conversations with stakeholders and administrative leaders form the basis of our design process,” she explained. “Our architects work seamlessly together as a team, supporting each other in providing highly personalized, professional services and designing extraordinary architecture that is at once functional, sustainable and timeless.”
“I’m very proud of the elegance of our designs,” she elaborated. “We understand that work on academic campuses requires a deep sensitivity to the culture and heritage of the institution. Good design is the ability to integrate well-crafted architecture into the existing and ever-evolving social and physical landscape of a campus.”
For Marshall Hall, this included a respectful appreciation of the historic details and a sophisticated approach to accentuating the building’s light-filled, open spaces. She added, “Our clients are happy and the students are happy with the space and to be back in this building.”
Award-Winning, Enduring Legacy
The architectural community has taken note of Marshall Hall’s renewal. The AIA Southern New York Chapter recognized the project with both a 2025 Design Award of Honor and a Committee on the Environment (COTE) Gold Award. AIA New York State also honored it with a 2025 Excelsior Award of Merit in the renovation/addition category, praising its “respect for the surrounding context, focus on human scale and deep understanding of user needs.”
These accolades affirm the project’s triple achievement of firmness, commodity and delight--reviving a beloved landmark while advancing SUNY ESF’s sustainability leadership. The Princeton Review ranked ESF #2 nationally on its Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation list and #4 among the Top 50 Green Colleges.
Marshall Hall now embodies the harmony of history and innovation. Its restored façade, elegant symmetry and meticulously detailed windows tell the story of an institution that values both tradition and progress. For Chiang | O’Brien Architects, the project reinforces the power of design to honor heritage, enrich learning and shape a more sustainable future.