Space Planning and Design - The space planning/design included dynamic renovation of the north wing of the building to make this a one-stop-shop facility. The campus is designed with an emphasis on shared/flexible spaces where students from different classes can collaborate in a team environment. The design includes student gathering and study rooms throughout the building, thus promoting further interaction between students and faculty. Transparency and visibility throughout the interior promote awareness of different programs and education. Daylighting is provided for 90% of the program spaces. The entire campus is accommodated within the existing footprint of the building maximizing the usable square footage.

Sustainability - The adaptive reuse of this building was the smartest choice in terms of sustainability. The Community College District’s approach to reviving and utilizing an existing building had a positive sustainable impact on the local community and the environment.

By using an existing building and retrofitting it, we reduced the embodied carbon emissions by approximately 95%. We also reused all the existing storefronts that were used to create office partitions and a few of the existing finish materials as part of the process. The existing mechanical systems were refurbished to be more efficient with appropriate zoning and better controls. We focused on improving the building operations and occupant experience and optimizing CO2 emissions. We provided a 360° building lifecycle management to enable smarter decisions.

Even though an extensive structural seismic grade was provided due to the change of use and an increase in the building's seismic risk category, it is overwhelmingly overshadowed by the amount of embodied carbon emissions that was avoided in a new construction scenario. The material used for the retrofit of the building primarily consisted of strengthening the steel structure with new reinforcing steel plates and steel members, and steel material is one of the most recycled materials in the world.

Economic Impact - The project resulted in significant savings of taxpayers' dollars. The construction cost to build a comparable new structure, plus a central plant and approximately 16 acres of land would be around $250 -$300 million.  The current purchase of building and rehabilitation construction costs is approximately $115 million. Purchasing an existing facility also expedited the District’s ability to provide access to quality higher education.

Structural Rehabilitation - With the support and trust of the District, the design team embarked on a non-conventional seismic evaluation and retrofit approach rarely seen on DSA projects in order to meet the project schedule and budget goals. In the end, steel was used effectively to bring this building into compliance with public school building requirements and current seismic standards.
 
Ultimately, this is a Comprehensive Vertical Campus promoting further collaboration and interaction between students, faculty, and staff.