← Back to Insights & Resources

How to Design a Building That Attracts “The Greatest Business Minds of Today”

Acclaimed as a marvel in modern architecture, Northwestern University’s Global Hub is home to the Kellogg School of Management and some of the greatest business minds of today. As its name suggests, the stunning design of the Global Hub helps the Kellogg School of Management attract students, faculty, and administrators from around the world—which is increasingly important in a globally competitive market.

The five-story, 415,000 square foot building is perched along the shores of Lake Michigan, with views of Chicago’s skyline. It was designed by the Toronto-based architectural firm KPMB to be a catalyst for creative and collaborative thinking. The design features a variety of learning and networking spaces, including a central atrium, a two-story auditorium, classrooms, a conference center, and a multitude of places to gather.

The Challenge: Sourcing Materials Globally to Create Curved Exteriors and Interiors

Materials and elements were researched and sourced globally to bring the design to life—aluminum from Belgium, glass from South America, lights from China, and Advanced Glazings Ltd.’s translucent glazing, Solera® from Canada, to name a few.

Graham Baxter, Architect with KPMB, explains: “With so many unique materials, it was a challenge to fit everything together to create the curved exteriors and interiors. This took a lot of technical skills and out-of-the-box thinking, as well as a number of very talented suppliers and trades people to execute this vision.”

Solera’s pallet of options for glass, insulation value, and light diffusion “made it easy for us to choose the right product to meet our technical and sustainable demands of the project, while still creating the most comfortable learning environment for the building occupants.”

The Vision: A Catalyst for Collaborative and Courageous Leaders

Dean Sally Blount notes on their website: “This building represents everything that Kellogg stands for – an ethos of collaboration, grounded wisdom and pioneering vision. It speaks to our ability to create an environment – physical, emotional, cultural – that can attract, shape and catalyze an unparalleled global community of courageous and collaborative leaders.”

The stunning design of the Global Hub helps the Kellogg School of Management attract students, faculty, and administrators from around the world—which is increasingly important in a globally competitive market. The building isn’t just functional space—it’s a physical manifestation of Kellogg’s values and a strategic asset for attracting top talent globally.

The Takeaway: Buildings That Attract the Greatest Minds

The Kellogg School of Management Global Hub proves that when you’re competing for “the greatest business minds of today” in a globally competitive market, the building itself becomes a strategic differentiator. It’s not just about classrooms and offices—it’s about creating a physical environment that embodies your values and attracts top talent.

The Design Success:

✓ **415,000 Square Feet:** Five-story building perched on Lake Michigan shores
✓ **Global Sourcing:** Materials from Belgium, South America, China, Canada
✓ **Curved Exteriors:** “Stacked ribbons” of different materials requiring technical skills and out-of-the-box thinking
✓ **LEED Platinum:** Highest level of sustainable building certification
✓ **Soft Glow Throughout:** Solera® diffuses ample natural light for comfortable learning environment
✓ **Strategic Asset:** Helps attract students, faculty, and administrators from around the world

When Dean Blount says the building “can attract, shape and catalyze an unparalleled global community of courageous and collaborative leaders,” she’s describing the ultimate ROI for educational architecture: a building that doesn’t just house your program—it helps you win the global competition for talent.

Global Hub Gallery