Since its official opening in February 2025, the Multicultural Center, or MCC, has stood as the physical realization of a vision decades in the making. Today, this landmark achievement has earned one of the highest honors in the state: a 2026 Building Award from the American Institute of Architects, or AIA, of Michigan. The award celebrates architectural innovation, sustainability and design excellence, showcasing work that elevates communities and sets new standards for the built environment.

More than just award-winning architecture at the heart of campus, the MCC stands as a welcoming hub for all students. Tracing its origins back to the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s, generations of student leaders organized and advocated for a dedicated home on campus. Joined by faculty, staff and alums, these advocates believed in a shared vision of a campus environment where all students could thrive and succeed.

Joining a tradition of campus design excellence

The AIA is the premier professional organization for architects in the United States, and the AIA Michigan chapter’s Design and Honor Awards are widely considered the top professional recognition for architecture within the state. The MCC earned one of three 2026 AIA Michigan Building Awards and joins a class of MSU campus buildings that have previously earned the prestigious recognition, including:

• The STEM Teaching and Learning Facility
• Edward J. Minskoff Pavilion
• Billman Music Pavilion
• Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

This award marks another year of excellence and recognition from AIA Michigan for MSU, celebrating campus projects that continue to push the boundaries of higher education design. Standing at 34,000 square feet and representing a $38 million investment in student life, the MCC proudly takes its place in that architectural tradition.

A masterclass in collaboration

Creating a permanent landmark built on decades of advocacy requires an extraordinary level of collaboration. Guiding the project from a rendering to the ribbon-cutting was a dedicated project management team that brought together campus partners, student leaders, design firm SmithGroup and contractor Clark Construction to make the vision a reality.

This guiding management team included:

• Vennie Gore, executive vice president for administration
• Brian Mullen, capital project delivery manager
• Lisa Sudia, space planner and project manager
• Tiana Carter, enterprise project manager

“The Multicultural Center serves as a home for our campus community,” said Executive Vice President for Administration Vennie Gore. “With the dedicated work of Brian, Lisa, Tiana and others, this project was a collaborative university effort involving students, faculty and staff reflecting our commitment to creating an environment for student success and academic achievement.”

“We are very thankful for the professionalism and teamwork throughout the project, including the architectural work of SmithGroup and the work of Clark Construction,” Gore added.

The MCC was developed by students for students, with meaningful involvement from the start. Undergraduate and graduate students contributed ideas and values that informed the exterior and interior design, ensuring the needs of all community members were considered.

“Its design philosophy embraces the universality of human experience, transcending cultural, physical and geographic boundaries. It’s inspiring to see such a visionary project recognized for its innovation,” said Monteil Crawley, senior principal, architect, SmithGroup.

Conceptualizing universal design

MSU embraces universal design, an architectural philosophy coined by Ronald Mace in 1985 aimed at making environments both visually pleasing and inherently usable for everyone.

These philosophies have been engineered directly into the MCC’s floor plan:

• Central access: Rather than tucking elevators around corners or down back hallways, elevators are centrally located, providing immediate access from both east and west entrances.
• Inclusive seating: In the main “living room,” inviting wooden step seating integrates retractable ADA-compliant spaces for wheelchair users.
• Sensory and communication features: The 150-person multipurpose room offers communication access services for deaf and hard-of-hearing guests, while sound-absorbing ceiling panels throughout meeting rooms provide acoustic comfort for those with sensitivities.

A home away from home

Beyond aesthetics and structure, the MCC serves as a vibrant center of daily campus life. The facility houses the Office of Multicultural Enrichment and Advocacy, or OMEA, expanding the university’s capacity to host workshops, support students’ academic development and empower students, faculty and staff.

“This recognition affirms what so many students, alums, faculty and staff envisioned for decades: a space that reflects MSU’s commitment to belonging, community and student success,” said incoming Associate Vice President for Inclusive Access and Belonging Kim Steed-Page. “The Multicultural Center was designed to be more than a building. It is a visible expression of our values and a place where every Spartan can feel welcomed, supported and connected. We are honored to see this vision recognized by the architectural and design community and grateful for the many individuals whose advocacy and leadership helped bring it to life.”

Shaping the student experience

For campus leaders and those who worked on the MCC, the award from AIA Michigan highlights that an intentional, community-driven design can profoundly shape student experience.

“The Multicultural Center was built through the voices, ideas and aspirations of generations of Spartans and seeing it receive this recognition is incredibly meaningful,” said Samuel Saldivar, director of OMEA and the Multicultural Center. “Every space within the building was intentionally designed to foster connection, community, celebration, learning and support. I am proud that this award recognizes not only the excellence of the design itself, but the impact the center is already having as a welcoming home away from home for students and the broader MSU community.”

As the Multicultural Center enters its second year of operation, the AIA Michigan award serves as validation that when a university plans and designs with empathy, intentionality and shared history in mind, the result is truly award-winning. More than just brick and mortar, the MCC continues to serve as a living testament to what is possible when Spartans come together, shaping the campus experience at MSU for generations to come.