Cambridge, MA | 2016
In order to create a unique and timeless look for a new educational facility at Harvard Business School, the design team turned to the expert craftsmen at Thos. Moser Contract. As creators of American hardwood fine furniture, they handcrafted a collection of inviting, richly detailed, and design-forward pieces
Open in 2016, the Chao Center serves as a dynamic hub of campus life for those attending HBS Executive Education programs, complementing the school’s classrooms and residences. Here, executives are welcomed to campus—whether gathering over coffee or a meal, continuing conversations sparked in the classroom, hosting small-group meetings, or simply taking a moment to recharge.
By design, the building bridges tradition and modernity, drawing from the architectural language of the historic HBS campus while reflecting the contemporary spirit of nearby Tata Hall. Inside, its open, expansive layout fosters connection, conversation, and the exchange of ideas, earning it the unofficial title of student center for Executive Education.
While the Chao Center remains an inviting space for MBA students and the broader campus community. The building also features project rooms, conference and event spaces, a dedicated dining area, and a large screen for shared moments, from sporting events to graduations and campus-wide celebrations.
Project Details
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An Evolving Design Process
Upon a site visit to the recently redesigned Thos. Moser showroom in Boston, MA, the design team saw a variety of classic and contemporary pieces that showcased the brand’s unique aesthetic and dedication to quality materials, craftsmanship, and tradition – something that blended well with Harvard’s mission and identity as a university.
The design team worked with Thos. Moser Contract to alter a popular design, the Harpswell Chair, which would eventually be used throughout the space. The chair is an iconic Thos. Moser design that has been used in a number of high-profile projects around the country. Pope Benedict XVI even sat in one during the official White House welcoming ceremony marking his April 2008 visit to the United States.
