Context
The architectural character of the college is mixed with opaque concrete buildings by William Pereira at the campus core and more progressive modernist facilities at the campus edges. Set within a lush campus landscape of green lawns and abundant mature trees, the college is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the region.

Design Solution
To reconcile the disparity between the early campus buildings and the newest facilities, a concept of “visual bridging” was developed to restore aesthetic harmony. Critical analysis revealed the “DNA” of the existing buildings and provided the foundation for the architectural vocabulary of the design. Simple rectangular volumes offset by subtle curving elements define the architecture, making it visually compatible with the mix of existing campus buildings.

The building provides spatial amenities to inspire students to stay on campus throughout the day. Areas along corridors expand and contract providing pockets of space for informal study or impromptu mentoring. Observation windows offer glances into teaching spaces designed to generate interest by exposing students to diverse fields of study.

Protected window openings optimize natural light and provide views from each learning space, visually connecting users to the surrounding campus open spaces. Conversely, these openings are augmented with expansive window walls at strategic locations to allow observation of the activities within and puts learning on display.

The design fosters connections with local industry partners such as Boeing, the city’s largest employer, through workforce transition programs in the STEM fields that come together within the building. The STEM Center is the epicenter of activity and provides a flexible collaboration space that accommodates meetings, exhibits, and workshops to build bridges with future tech employees, creating a pipeline for local businesses to train the future workforce.

Resiliency Measures
The design takes advantage of the temperate coastal climate by using passive strategies to improve energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. The building’s shape and massing form a protected courtyard that permits morning sun and shields from uncomfortable western exposure. Anchored by the STEM Center, the court becomes a living lab for STEM experiments. The site allowed for two wings to have good solar orientation facing north and south and these use horizontal shades to mitigate heat gain. The site also led to a long elevation facing east and west, and vertical shading is used on these surfaces. A custom HVAC system coupled with a high-performing building envelope reduces energy consumption and improves indoor air quality.