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50 years ago, CPL planted its roots in Rochester, NY, beginning a journey defined by purposeful design and partnerships. Among the relationships that most vividly reflect this rich history is our collaboration with the University of Rochester (U of R).

For nearly two decades, we’ve had the privilege of revitalizing campus staples, creating future-ready environments for learning, healing and strengthening the sense of community that connects it all.

The U of R is a homegrown icon—just like CPL, which was founded in the city in 1975. Over the years, both have grown in sync, shaped by Rochester’s character and a shared commitment to building something that lasts.

Elevating Everyday Firsts

Across campus, first impressions matter, and the Goergen Athletics Center Field House is no exception.

Originally built in 1930, it’s long been a nexus for varsity sports. When administrators sought to extend the facility’s offerings, we reimagined it as a 13,000 sq. ft. high-performance training center. Upgrades include a 200-meter running track, an indoor turf field, a batting cage, a basketball court, a new sound system and dividing curtains that allow multiple events to take place concurrently.

Side-by-side images of an indoor athletic facility. The left photo shows students running on a blue indoor track, while the right photo captures student athletes using the track's central infield area for practice drills.

Since reopening in 2019, it’s continued to host All-American athletes, and now functions as a backdrop for beloved campus traditions like Relay for Life and the FIRST® LEGO® League Championship Tournament.

Just minutes away, Wallis Hall—home to the University’s Office of Admissions & Financial Aid—plays an equally important part. As a vital entry point for prospective students and families, it needed to strike the right balance: welcoming and authentic, yet grounded in heritage.

Side-by-side photos of the University of Rochester’s Office of Admissions & Financial Aid. The left image features a welcoming reception desk set against white walls with wood wainscoting. The right image shows a nearby lounge with bold blue and yellow furniture, a blue accent wall, and a warm, inviting atmosphere.

To achieve this, we infused the lounge with vibrant pops of blue and yellow that echo U of R’s brand identity in a contemporary way. Meanwhile, the original woodwork and wainscoting were preserved for timeless charm.

The same spirit of renewal influenced our work at the Witmer House, the official residence of the University president since 1973 and a frequent touchdown space for dignitaries and donors. Renovations underpinned the home’s classic elegance while bolstering its role as a place to gather and lead.

Side-by-side images of the historic Witmer House in Rochester, NY. The left photo shows the brick exterior surrounded by greenery, while the right photo features a refined interior dining room with light blue walls, an elegant wooden table, and classic chairs.

Empowering Student Success Around the Clock

As campus life evolved, so too did expectations for where and how students learn. The Gleason Library, U of R’s only 24/7 study space, became a priority in supporting changing needs.

Students in a private study room within a library. One student with long black hair writes on a wall-mounted whiteboard, while another sits at the table with legs crossed, focused on his work.

When signs of wear emerged, stakeholders seized an opportunity to rethink the space for versatility and engagement. Working closely with leadership and student voices, we helped reinvent Gleason as a dynamic commons where anyone can focus—or simply take a break—any hour of the day.

Side-by-side images of dynamic study spaces within a library. The left photo shows students collaborating in a lively commons area, with two boys writing on a whiteboard mounted on a blue accent wall. The right photo captures students focused in individual orange study booths, designed for independent work.

With an open layout, modular furnishings, quiet zones, video-call pods and casual lounges, the space gives visitors the freedom of choice. Brighter finishes, integrated technology and enhanced circulation also bring new energy to the atmosphere, resulting in a comfortable destination where academia and student life naturally converge.

Bridging Healthcare and Education

As a medical institution, U of R is dually committed to delivering care and preparing the professionals who provide it. Our work has reinforced both missions through a holistic design approach, empowering students and faculty alike.

Exterior view of a School of Nursing building with a warm brick facade, set against a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds.

Nowhere is that more evident than at Helen Wood Hall, home to the University’s School of Nursing. In response to a 50% enrollment surge and rising demand for accelerated degree programs, our Healthcare and Higher Ed practice teams joined forces to revamp a former residence wing into a 30,000 sq. ft. expansion tailored to 21st century nursing education.

Outfitted with high-fidelity simulation labs and mannikins; observation rooms; AR/VR instruction areas; and an eat-in kitchen, the addition mirrors real-world care facilities—giving students the confidence they need from day one on the job. Many graduates have since been hired by the University’s own healthcare system, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness as a local talent pipeline.

Side-by-side images of hands-on nursing instruction. The left photo shows students seated in a classroom with blue and gray checkered carpet, observing a peer conduct a mock patient assessment. The right photo captures a student practicing a medical procedure on a high-fidelity manikin under the guidance of a faculty member.

That same multidisciplinary expertise continues to inform projects across the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) network.

At Jones Memorial Hospital—a rural facility serving four counties—we led a $25 million transformation into a modern “medical village.” The project introduced a new sterile processing department (SPD) and a three-story MRI tower, replacing an outdated mobile unit. It also increased surgical capacity, streamlined patient throughput and added unique spaces for specialties like OBGYN and imaging—equipping the hospital to grow its services and attract top talent in a competitive market.

Side-by-side images of Jones Memorial Hospital. The left photo features the building’s exterior with a visible parking lot in the foreground and a bright blue sky overhead. The right photo offers a glimpse inside, showing a clinical room equipped with medical tray tables and a secure entry door.

Similarly, the Geneseo medical office building consolidated a comprehensive range of treatment types—spanning family medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, allergy, urology and an optical shop—under one roof to improve access and convenience for patients throughout the region.

Side-by-side images showcasing a modern medical facility. The left photo captures medical professionals performing a patient examination in a procedure room, with a clinician in scrubs seated at a computer workstation. The right photo features the facility’s exterior—warm brick and contemporary glass windows—highlighted by a covered drop-off canopy and a bright blue sky with white clouds.

Faith, Belonging and the Next Chapter

Today, our partnership continues to advance in new and meaningful ways. The Joseph P. Mack Catholic Center and the William and Mary Christine Carpenter Catholic Chapel, which broke ground on February 24, 2025, represents the next era of co-creation between CPL and U of R.

An interior rendering of a sanctuary within a Catholic chapel. There are members of the congregation sitting along wooden pews, facing a stage with a piano, set against the backdrop of a stained glass window with shades of red, green, yellow and orange.

Strategically located at the intersection of Wilson Boulevard and Faculty Road, steps from residence halls and commuter parking, the 7,900 sq. ft. building will serve more than 1,800 Catholic students as well as the broader campus population.

Set to open in fall of 2025, it will offer a dedicated sanctuary for prayer, pastoral care rooms, a communal kitchen and a flexible event space for all student groups, embodying an institutional focus on equity, inclusion and spirituality for everyone.

Watch a video flythrough of the future Catholic Center.

Looking Ahead, Together

Long after our first project, our partnership continues to thrive, guided by the same ethos of creativity and care that shaped our earliest work. As we celebrate our golden anniversary, we’re grateful for the spaces that enable knowledge-sharing, recovery and compassion—and excited for all we’ll continue to build as a cohesive team.

About the Author: Mike Mistriner, AIA

With a career spanning more than 30 years, Mike is engaged in the firm’s business development efforts and is leading our Higher Education practice throughout the east coast and beyond. His experience encompasses work with K-12, higher education and corporate clients and is evidenced on many campus communities, both large and small, public and private. Mentoring young professionals is one of his favorite parts about the job, coupled with a strict focus on quality of design as an architect.