| CONTEXT: Located on an historic university campus in Pasadena, this new academic facility is sited at one end of a major campus pedestrian walkway. Existing landscape changes from formal arrangements of olive trees on one side to a more natural landscape of sycamores and eucalyptus around the building’s site. The project draws its exterior color palette directly from these landscape elements. While a contemporary building, a variety of green and clear glass blends with and reflects the surrounding landscape to relate with neighboring early 20th Century Mediterranean style buildings.
PROGRAM/SCOPE: 46,000 gsf. The building is an immediately accessible plaza of group teaching, learning and working spaces on the ground level supporting a two story research center. Glass walls make the ground level an active, connected environment. The upper two levels contain faculty and graduate student offices and studios, designed for the project teamwork which is at the core of the university’s educational and research activities. Flexible studios open onto a two story atrium that acts as a “town square”, furnished for casual gathering, events and study. Upper levels are also interconnected by a two story “resident lounge” that functions as an updated faculty club with dramatic views of the mountains and campus walkway.
BUDGET/COST: $20.2M
SPECIAL CHALLENGES/UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS: The facility serves as home to participants of a special program whose focus is interdisciplinary research that addresses the growth and impact of information science as it relates to all science and engineering practices. Participants in this initiative will migrate from all parts of the campus, representing all colleges of science and engineering on campus. The aim of the facility is to foster collaboration, research and teaching intrinsic to this new academic discipline, thus requiring a building that has the flexibility to support these various areas of study. A second challenge was that the current architect took over the project from a previous firm midway through their design, creating significant budget and schedule constraints on the new project. A third challenge was meeting the university’s sustainable needs within the revised scope.
SOLUTION/DESIGN: A rectangular form and simple glass structure that met the surrounding frontages and height limit was implemented to facilitate the revised budget. Offices were pushed to the exterior to maximize views, while flexible studios, classrooms and a public atrium are located at the core to maximize general access. Sustainable elements include green materials and fixtures such as those made from certified wood & recycled content, low VOC paints and carpet, a photovoltaic system, waterless urinals, and a white roof system. Incorporation of a bioswale and infiltration pit help with stormwater controls. To accommodate the individual comfort for professors in a sustainable fashion, a chilled beam system was incorporated in workspaces, which is a localized radiant cooling and ventilation system with individual control that is cost and energy efficient. In addition, operable windows have been included to maximize thermal comfort and personal control. The project is designed to achieve a LEED Gold Rating.
|
