This LEED-Certified student services center was designed as an open, inviting edifice filled with natural light that draws visitors to the heart of campus. The building stretches its arms to the community, fits within the context of the existing campus buildings, and allows for easy access to the students with multiple points of entry. Its dramatic glass entrance is shaped like the pages of an open book, and entering the building is symbolic of immersing oneself into the realm of knowledge.
Prior to construction of the new facility, students had to travel all around campus to enroll in classes, purchase supplies, or inquire about financial aid. The new center enhances the delivery of these services to students by providing them with a “one-stop shop.”
The glass entrance lobby transforms into a glowing lantern at night, which serves as a beacon and facilitates wayfinding. Vertical articulation of the deep-set windows of the building responds to the desert conditions. |