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****   Merit Award   ****
California State University, Northridge - Student Recreation Center
(# 386)
Images Description Credits
Completion 12 / 2011
Square Footage 122,621
Specific Use of Building Recreation Center
Project Location Northridge, CA

Scope


Located in LA County, the area has a dry and sunny climate with mild winters and high temperatures in the summer months. The three-story, 130,000 SF recreation center serves a student population of 36,000 with 6,000 average daily visits and is funded entirely by student fees. The program includes fitness areas, three-court gym, multi-activity court, running track, climbing wall, racquetball, multipurpose studios, administration, lockers and an aquatic center. The facility was envisioned to become the hub of student life on the primarily commuter campus.

Challenge


The challenge was to accommodate the program on the long and narrow site dictated by the campus masterplan while addressing its poor solar orientation and urban edge condition. Located on the fringe of the university, the building delineates a new campus edge while establishing a terminus to the main pedestrian axis.

Solution


The design solution engaged the transitional nature of the site by creating a “fold” that responds to both climate and surrounding context: sun-protected and accessible to the campus(west), open, revealing and dynamic to the surrounding community(east). Utilizing this unique position, the east façade is primarily glass, creating a “human billboard” that reveals the activities to the community. The “billboard” is protected by the roof overhang and a series of vertical, perforated metal panels that reduce the solar radiation onto the glass by 60%.

The width of collegiate basketball courts determined the size of the structural module (60’). This typical bay was used by the multidisciplinary team to determine the optimal shape. The result was a cross-section profile that addresses multiple factors and was then repeated creating an extrusion. The integration of the different disciplines involved gave form to the building with a repetitive module that incorporates structural and MEP solutions to enhance the building’s performance. The project is 28.6% better than Title-24 and achieved a LEED Gold certification in 2012.

Sustainability


• Low-E glass, energy star roof, daylighting and an efficient HVAC system
• The profile of the building promotes displacement ventilation, natural daylighting, efficient stacking of spaces and solar control
• 100% naturally daylit gymnasium spaces with direct and indirect lighting and controls
• Water efficient fixtures reduce use by 35% from base standard building
• Drought tolerant plant materials with drip irrigation and smart controllers reduce irrigation water by 60%
• 100% of storm water is treated by bioswales and harvesting wells before recharging the groundwater, completely avoiding city storm drain systems
• Extensive solar control using overhangs, louvers, and perforated metal demonstrates the sustainable quotient of the building
• Structure and mechanical integration lower the building floor-to-floor requirements by 6 feet
• Daylight and views for 90% of occupants
• Construction waste diversion of 80%
• Recycled and regional material used throughout, including certified wood for gym flooring
• Enhanced commissioning and refrigerant management
• IAQ best practices used during construction and before occupancy, coupled with use of low emitting materials
• 86.36 kW PV-array system
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