• Gensler has been selected as architect for Colfax Corner, a mixed-use research and office development in downtown South Bend, Indiana.
• The first phase will adaptively reuse the former South Bend Tribune building, which has been vacant since 2019.
• A new five-story research and office building is planned at Colfax Avenue and Main Street.
• The project will include approximately 202,000 square feet of new and renovated innovation and research space, with about one-third planned for University of Notre Dame programs.
• A central courtyard, cafĂ©, retail and meeting spaces will connect the historic Tribune building with the new construction and provide public-facing gathering areas.

By Lindsey Coulter

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Gensler has been selected as the architect for Colfax Corner, a mixed-use research and office development in South Bend.

The project, led by Ancora in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame and the City of South Bend, will include the adaptive reuse of the former South Bend Tribune building and construction of a new five-story research and office building. The development is planned to provide approximately 202,000 square feet of new and renovated innovation and research space.

The Tribune building, which has been vacant since 2019, served as the home of South Bend’s daily newspaper from 1921 to 2019. The Art Deco-era building has been nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Colfax Corner is intended to incorporate the existing building into a larger district focused on research, entrepreneurship and advanced industries.

Adaptive Reuse and New Construction

The first phase will center on the renovation and adaptive reuse of the Tribune building. A new five-story building at Colfax Avenue and Main Street will complement the historic structure and provide additional research and office space.

According to the project team, about one-third of the 202,000 square feet will be occupied by Notre Dame for research, innovation and community engagement programs. The remaining space will be available to companies in fields including advanced computing, data analytics and artificial intelligence.

Gensler’s design approach draws from the Tribune building’s existing architecture while establishing a contemporary identity for the new construction. The Tribune’s facade and interior features will be retained as part of the adaptive reuse, while the new building will use proportions, vertical elements and materials that reference the historic structure.

The new building is planned with a terracotta-colored facade intended to relate to the brick of the Tribune building. A transparent bridge will connect the two structures while maintaining a visual distinction between the historic and contemporary buildings.

Courtyard Creates Central Gathering Space

The site design also includes a central courtyard that will serve as a shared arrival and gathering area. The courtyard will connect to café, retail, meeting and lobby spaces and provide access between the buildings.

Anderson Bohlander, an Indiana-based landscape architecture firm, has been selected to lead the landscape design. Its work will focus on the courtyard and a mid-block entry intended to establish connections between the buildings and activate the ground level.

The project team said the design references the Tribune building’s historical role as a place where the public could observe the newspaper’s operations. When the Tribune opened in 1912, large plate-glass windows along Lafayette Street provided views into the building’s printing operations.

Research and Innovation Focus

Colfax Corner is planned as part of South Bend’s emerging Tech & Talent District. The development is expected to provide space for Notre Dame programs as well as private-sector companies whose research and development activities complement the university’s areas of expertise.

The project is also being developed in alignment with the city’s 2045 Master Plan, according to the project team. The plan calls for continued investment in South Bend’s urban core and economic development.

“Design will define how this place feels and functions, creating an environment built for collaboration, discovery and long-term economic strength,” said Josh Parker, CEO of Ancora, in a statement.

Meghan Webster, Co-managing Director at Gensler Chicago, said the project will combine the Tribune building’s historic character with new uses and development.

“By reimagining the historic Tribune building and its surroundings, Colfax Corner will bring new life to an underused corner of downtown South Bend,” Webster said in a statement.

Shannon Cullinan, executive vice president at Notre Dame, said the project will provide space for research and employment while introducing dining and retail uses to the area.

Construction timing and additional project details were not included in the announcement.

The post Gensler Selected to Design Colfax Corner Redevelopment in Downtown South Bend appeared first on 91ÊÓÆ”.

The post Gensler Selected to Design Colfax Corner Redevelopment in Downtown South Bend appeared first on 91ÊÓÆ”.

By Ray Makiejus

The stakes of roof failure are high for any building. This is especially true of educational buildings, where the price of failure can result in significant disruption to students’ education.

For the University of Notre Dame—one of the nation’s most respected campuses and home to more than 4 million square feet of low-slope roofing across its many facilities—failure is simply not an option. It’s why the school’s facility management team made a critical decision regarding roofing standards across the entire campus. That decision is paying dividends today, helping ensure greater roof longevity and reliability.

“We couldn’t afford to replace roofs every 20 years or so,” said Tony Polotto, Senior Director of Construction and Quality Assurance. “We needed a solution that could go the distance.”

Indeed, several years ago, Notre Dame faced a challenge similar to that of many other facilities around the world: roof systems that could not deliver reliable performance beyond 20 years. As cracks, leaks, and premature failures drove up costs and disrupted campus operations, Polotto was tasked with vetting higher-performing systems that could eliminate these problems.

“My boss basically said, ‘Go find me a roof that’s been on a building for more than 20 years and is still performing,’” Polotto said. “That was the mandate.”

To meet the requirements, Polotto and his team identified ketone ethylene ester (KEE)-based roof systems as a potential solution. In practice, this type of roof material has delivered returns for the organization years later.

Evaluating Common Material Performance

Low-slope commercial roofs—whether on an educational facility, industrial plant, hospital, or any other type of structure—typically use one of four types of single-ply membranes:

• Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)
• Ketone ethylene ester (KEE)

TPO has become the most widely installed membrane in the United States due to its low purchase cost, common installation practices and broad familiarity among commercial roofing contractors. Both TPO and EPDM offer similar upfront cost advantages compared to PVC and KEE roofs. However, initial savings do not necessarily equal long-term value or protection.

For example, KEE-based membranes—specifically those meeting American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards—are recognized for providing exceptional puncture and weathering compared to TPO or EPDM. This is because ASTM-compliant KEE membranes contain a dense fiber reinforcement layer as part of their construction, where other common membranes do not. Such construction advantages enable KEE membranes to deliver performance benefits while consuming fewer raw materials (one 36-mil membrane is recognized as an alternative to most 60-mil membranes).

These attributes can make a significant difference over the course of a roof system’s anticipated service life, resulting in greater resistance to common modes of failure. In the case of a severe storm, for example, a KEE membrane could be more likely to resist puncture and impact from flying debris or foreign objects that may impact the roof.

Notre Dame Discovers the KEE Difference

Polotto’s team started with research, first to identify potential solutions and then to learn how they were produced and how they performed in the field. The team obtained samples and consulted with multiple manufacturers, including one that produces a KEE-based membrane.

“We saw how it was built, and the difference in the scrim and material was obvious,” Polotto said, noting the variances between KEE and other common materials. “You can see and feel the contrast in the fabric. It’s clear that it’s built to withstand the stresses of foot traffic, weathering and puncture.”

Furthermore, KEE has also established itself within the industry as a high-performance option proven to deliver excellent longevity and service life. Some KEE roof systems have performed for more than 40 years, and it was this kind of demonstrated track record that Notre Dame needed to move forward.

Creating a New Standard for Performance

The first KEE installation on the Notre Dame campus was in 2005, and the difference became clear quickly. The KEE system included a FiberTiteÂź membrane from Seaman Corporation, which has demonstrated consistent performance since that time, and was adopted as the campus standard for low-slope roofing.

Twenty years later, the university has installed approximately 2 million square feet of KEE membrane and has not experienced any system failure. Maintenance has been minimal, limited to routine activities.

“Our roof systems are no longer a worry,” Polotto said. “We’ve seen the proof for ourselves, and there’s no looking back. It’s no surprise that Notre Dame is a big fan.”

For Notre Dame, KEE membranes represented a small increase in upfront investment compared to common alternatives. However, that investment paid off—the university has saved millions by avoiding 20-year replacement cycles. By investing in proven performance, the university has avoided disruptive replacements, doubled the service life of its roofs, and gained greater control over budgets.

“For us, the numbers tell the story,” Polotto said. “No failures in 20 years, and a system capable of lasting twice as long as the alternatives. The life cycle savings are clear.”

For educational facility managers everywhere, an investigation into higher-performance roof systems can make a real difference. From smaller local school districts to major campuses like Notre Dame, proven longevity, minimized repair and replacement costs, and reliable operation can lead to significant operational benefits.

Ray Makiejus is the FiberTiteÂź Roof Systems Midwest Regional Manager with Seaman Corporation. He has more than 20 years of experience in building envelope consulting to support architects, consultants and owners.

The post How The University of Notre Dame Avoids Costly Early Roof Replacements appeared first on 91ÊÓÆ”.

The post How The University of Notre Dame Avoids Costly Early Roof Replacements appeared first on 91ÊÓÆ”.