Opening the Doors (Virtually!)

The much-anticipated grand opening of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact took place this past Thursday evening. Of course, given the health risks posed by COVID-19, the celebration was primarily virtual in nature. Undaunted, the University of Oregon presented a very well-produced video celebrating the completion of the ambitious project’s first phase. This grand opening showcase is accompanied by a series of six breakout discussions that each focus in greater detail upon how a particular aspect of the Knight Campus contributes toward the goal of elevating the University of Oregon’s stature as a major research institution.

The new facility clearly signals the university’s ambitions. Additionally, it reflects the Knight’s unapologetic penchant for a contemporary architectural expression, as the products of their largesse for the Athletics Department bear witness to. Fundamentally, the Knight Campus is a manifest symbol of the university’s forward-thinking and determined mission to tackle some of society’s toughest challenges. A more unassuming design by the architects—the team of Ennead Architects of New York with Bora Architects of Portland—would not have symbolized these ambitions as well. As I mentioned upon the unveiling of the design in 2017, the Knight Campus is expressly intended to be part of a rebranding for the university and an asset for use in attracting world-class scientists. 

As completed, the design appears very much true to its initial renderings by Ennead/Bora. It retains its diagrammatic quality, which is relieved by the meticulousness and precision of its detailing. Gathering from the videos, the interiors appear agreeably bright, open, and conducive to collaboration. With luck, I’ll get an opportunity to experience the building firsthand one day. We’ll see whether the building’s aesthetic wears well over the years and continues to serve effectively as an emblem for cutting-edge research. And time will tell if the design becomes as treasured as many of the older campus buildings are today or if it will eventually lose its luster and appeal. 

Importantly, the completed first phase of the Knight Campus is a precedent for how the University of Oregon’s physical facilities will grow and mature in the future—a future that is more uncertain and unpredictable than anyone may have envisioned when the project was first announced a few short years ago. 2020 may have forever changed how universities operate, just as it has affected all our daily lives and sense of security and community. Regardless, the opening of the Knight Campus is undeniably an occasion to celebrate. This addition of what promises to be a truly impactful asset is poised to offer incalculable returns on the substantial investments by the University of Oregon, Phil and Penny Knight, and its many other generous supporters.