# Business Innovation Buildings Voith and Mactavish Architects Designs an Innovation Building By Kalin Ned | Published 2026-05-15 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/business-innovation-building References: [cchic.ch](https://www.cchic.ch/Press-Details.php?ID=3488/Voith-and-Mactavish-Architects-VMA-LEED-Gold-Certified-Education-Building-for-Lehigh-University-Advances-Hybrid-Methods-of-Learning-and-Prepares-Students-for-Real-World-Exchange---Bethlehem---United-States) Voith and Mactavish Architects has designed the Business [Innovation Building](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/museum-of-innovation-startup-technology) at Lehigh University. This project resulted in a 74,000 square foot LEED Gold-certified facility that houses the Vistex Institute for Executive Education and features an [in-the-round lecture hall](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/philo) with four LED arrays hanging above a podium-less space. The interior of the Business Innovation Building also boasts a pitch room for practicing presentations, a business communications suite for writing and speaking skills, hybrid learning classrooms with advanced camera and sound systems, as well as modular furniture. Students can take advantage of a television studio and a one-touch video recording studio, and the [Lehigh Ventures Lab business incubator](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innovate-bay) for early-stage entrepreneurs. 
 The Business Innovation Building’s double-height lobby with fritted glass and an exterior canopy that controls sunlight opens onto an outdoor courtyard that can welcome 200 people. Image Credit: Jeffrey Totaro ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 7.2/10 - Popularity: 68% | Activity: 72% | Freshness: 77% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Experiential Learning Hubs:** Immersive, multi-use facilities combine executive education, startup incubation, and media production into integrated ecosystems that redefine campus-industry collaboration. - **Hybrid-audio Visual Classrooms:** Advanced camera, sound, and LED-array technologies enable synchronous in-person and remote participation models that transform course delivery and event monetization. - **Modular Collaboration Spaces:** Reconfigurable furniture and pitch rooms support flexible team workflows and episodic programming that alter how organizations stage ideation, training, and demos. ### Who This Affects Most - **Higher Education:** Universities with LEED-certified, tech-enabled facilities position themselves as revenue-generating continuing education centers and innovation partners for corporations. - **Corporate Training & Executive Education:** Providers of leadership development can leverage in-the-round lecture halls and one-touch recording studios to offer immersive executive experiences and scalable digital products. - **Real Estate Development:** Developers of campus and commercial space can capture premium demand by delivering adaptable, sustainability-focused buildings that host hybrid events and incubators. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Timber Biotech Labs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adimab.md) - [Modern Blue-Accented Academic Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marie-esther-pavilion.md) - [Creative Office Campuses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mothers-la-headquarters.md) - [Modern School Campuses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/groupe-scolaire-simone-veil.md) - [Nature Integrated Offices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bochum-office.md) - [Timber Research Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anthony-timberlands.md) - [Collaborative Corporate Offices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vkv-reasrans-offices.md) - [Sustainable Corporate Education Facilities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deloitte-university.md) - [Entrepreneurship-Focused University Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/entrepreneurship-and-innovation.md)