Perkins+Will, a global architectural design firm, has opened the Modesto Junior College Student Services Building in Modesto. The building, designed to be a student common space and a campus front door, will be a new East Campus landmark.
The firm has included sustainable strategies in the facility, which is now expecting to obtain LEED Silver certification and if approved, the building will be the Modesto Junior College East Campus’ first facility to receive LEED certification.
The $6.5-million building is situated on the main pedestrian pathway and is built to consolidate existing student services spread all through the campus. Different programs such as counseling, evaluations, campus admissions, classrooms, records and other student support services are now being undertaken in the new building.
One of the challenges of the project during the peak economy days was providing ample program area for growth, consolidation and informal interactions. Part of a central bullpen area is included as a lobby in the 19,650-square-foot building enclosure and the other part comprises an exterior courtyard, which is covered by a canopy made of custom perforated aluminum panels to protect from the hot Modesto sun. The pattern of the canopy separates the leaves from the encircling trees and produces a spotted light effect that blends the scheme into the site as well as shades the entrance curtain wall. The total area of the building measures 26,000 ft2.
Sustainable design strategies that focus on energy and water savings are incorporated in the building. Perkins+Will collaborated with the user group and the Yosemite Community College District to familiarize the costs and benefits of attaining LEED certification. The project is expected to receive LEED Silver certification because it had already been proposed to sustainable standards.
Source: http://www.perkinswill.com/