In January 1992, UBC's Campus Planning & Construction office commissioned The Colborne Architectural Group Pacific to conduct a feasibility study for the relocation of The Faculty of Graduate Studies' administrative offices to the existing 3 storey Graduate Student Centre. The project entailed the creation of 12,000 sq. ft. of offices, meeting, public reception and thesis defense rooms for the Dean and FOGS working units within previous food services facilities. The project also included planning and renovation recommendations for an additional 12,000 sq. ft. of student offices and recreation space including 125 seat restaurant/bar, 100 seat student pub and an 8,000 sq. ft. banquet hall.

Final planning and design involved full Building Code upgrades for the c. 1970 Graduate Student Centre and adjoining c.1961 Thea Koerner House, a 'heritage modern' Massey Medal award winner. Upgrades included full seismic and accessibility improvements with elevator and exterior ramps, modernizing mechanical and electrical system and fire and life safety upgrades to bring the building complex into a new 'life cycle'. The project was constructed in four phases between 1993 and 1999 to suit UBC funding availability for a total construction cost of $4.5M.