Piedmont University Student Commons
The Piedmont University Student Commons in Demorest, completed in August 2015, is a 58,000 sq ft student life hub that transformed campus culture and spatial experience.
Thoughtfully sited on a sloping hillside, the building elegantly steps down over 15 ft and features a curving atrium that slices through the core of the structure, organically shaping circulation and drawing daylight deep into interior spaces.
The Commons houses a vibrant mix of functions including the main dining hall, Starbucks Café, Barnes & Noble Bookstore, a banquet hall, fitness center with indoor court and walking track, racquetball courts, and even a rock‑climbing wall—making it both a campus centerpiece and a recruiting amenity.
“The Student Commons was needed to support fast-growing enrollment and serve the northeast Georgia community.”
-Piedmont President James Mellichamp
“I love it; so modern and cool … When I was looking at colleges, this building drew me in.”
-Student Kyndal Goss
Designed as a true hub for student engagement, the Commons has become an energetic “student playhouse” where students meet, study, relax, and stay on campus long into the evening.
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