| The original campus planning began in the early 1950’s on the Odell Ranch which was centrally located within the Coachella Valley. John Carl Warnecke was selected as the design architect for the campus plan and during his initial visit to the site he became enthralled with the existing Date Palm grove. Warnecke observed the long rows of date palm trees and the covered corridors that they formed with their trunks and fronds. Throughout the campus, the hundreds of columns supporting the covered walks have arches that rise from the columns at the same angle as well-trimmed date palm fronds. These covered walkways are a key architectural element throughout the campus that ties the new architecture to the history and vision of the past.
The Project’s mission is to upgrade the Athletics Facilities to create an exciting and lively place to see and be seen where students can work-out, hang-out and relax in a sustainable design. The Athletics Facility is a multi-faceted project that includes renovation of an existing building, currently housing shower and locker rooms, into a state-of-the-art health and fitness facility, construction of a new 35,000-square-foot competition gymnasium and a new tennis complex. The competition gymnasium will include a two-story atrium lobby fronting a new athletics courtyard, three recreational cross courts, telescoping bleachers, concessions, storage and locker rooms. The lockers rooms are designed to provide separate student and team rooms to equally meet the needs of the academic and athletic programs. The existing Shower/Locker Building will be remodeled to house the new fitness facility, with a weight room and two multi-purpose rooms for aerobics, spinning, and dance.
The east elevation of the new Gymnasium has a custom perforated facade that’s not only aesthetically pleasing, but also serves a practical function; providing privacy and solar control into the space. At night, the back lit screen is a much needed way-finding element. The large scale signage directs students and visitors alike to the locker rooms, showers and restrooms even from the athletics fields.
The HVAC system provides for direct space-conditioning of the gymnasium while allowing return and relief air to indirectly condition and maintain building temperatures in the adjacent support spaces. Occupant comfort in the lobby is enhanced by four large circulating fans mounted from the ceiling. The high-efficiency envelope insulated precast panels, innovative HVAC systems, and efficient lighting creates a building that exceeds Title-24 standards by 25%. Sustainable features include:
• Tracking LEED Gold certification
• Integration with campus storm water management systems
• “Cool Roof” system with infrastructure provided for future PV panels
• Water efficient landscaping
• Water efficient plumbing fixtures
• Building commissioning program provided by the campus
• Project exceeds T-24 by 25%.
• Construction waste management procedures are specified
• Specification of recycled content and locally produced materials
• Specification of FSC certified wood products
• Best practices for ventilation rate design, control, and monitoring
• Construction indoor air quality management procedures are specified
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