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Architecture
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| # 262 |
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| Completion |
8 / 2024 |
| Specific Use of Building |
Community College Campus Center |
| Project Location |
Indio, California |
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Project description:
College of the Desert has seen massive enrollment growth at its educational center in the heart of downtown Indio, California. Once the site of a defunct bus terminal, the campus has revitalized the sense of opportunity in this neighborhood. The district set out to grow this impact exponentially with a full college campus directly fronting Oasis Street. They sought an architectural impact as well–an intentional counterpoint to the massive county jail currently under construction within 1,000 feet of the campus, showing that investment in this community can mean more than the construction of a correctional facility.
Goals
Establishing the College of the Desert Indio Expansion as a fully independent campus location meant more than just bringing together all the services and facilities needed into this one spot. It also required the social spaces, critical mass of activity, and sense of community that define a thriving higher education experience. Given its downtown site, it needed to present a prominent facade along Oasis Street while managing the impacts of the harsh desert sun and wind. The client had a strong sense of purpose for this project’s image in the community and for the facilities that would become a civic landmark, an icon of educational investment, and a beacon of opportunity.
Strategies
Climate optimization strategies shape the building massing. Desert sun is tempered by a western brise soleil, while the bulk of the spaces that benefit from daylighting are arrayed along a more southerly exposure. At the meeting point a vibrant interlocking stack of social, study, and dining spaces form the beating heart of campus life. To the south is a unique open air ‘parasol’ shade structure that is equal parts respite from the heat and flexible civic event space.
Results
The combined result of this project is a full campus experience at the College of the Desert in the city of Indio. Beyond mere growth in capacity, these new facilities vastly expand student life and engagement with onsite dining, the full range of student services and assistance programs, and vibrant social spaces. |
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