Building Area:

10,354 SF

Cost per Square Foot:

$455

Construction Cost:

$4,715,117

Date of Completion:

June 1, 2017

Project Description: Located on the coastal campus of a state university, this student-

centered building is a destination for campus life. Affectionately dubbed the “Big Backyard”,

the building and accompanying green space are sited in the first-year student housing

district. Removed from the center of campus, this area needed a catalyst that would breathe

life into a once stagnant area. This building stands amid outdated dormitories that pre-date

the recent rule that new projects adhere to Georgian design principles. This offered

designers the challenge of presenting a more refined aesthetic while at the same time

achieving sustainable and student driven goals.

Factors having a major impact on the design were both university and student driven. The

university desired to have the project meet LEED Silver requirements; and while they did not

desire to go through the certification process, the intent to implement sustainable technology

and practices were factors in every decision during the project. Additionally, student focus

groups revealed a desire to have a strong connection to the outdoors. “Even when we’re

inside, we want to feel like we’re outside.”

This facility is truly a hub, providing several retailers and student spaces that are light, airy

and outwardly focused. Amenities on the first floor include a national retailer burger

restaurant, a coffee shop, a convenience store, a bike shop, and student dining space.

While the first floor creates a connection to the outdoors, the second floor and outdoor

patios offer a tree house experience, overlooking it all.

A12.01

User Statement: The architects were able to design a sustainable facility which

compliments the campus aesthetic, fitting its surroundings perfectly. The naturally daylit

living/learning spaces gave students a place to collaborate outside of the classroom, quickly

becoming a beacon of student culture and enhancing our first-year student experience.

A compact first-floor plan

houses four independent

retailers and associated

support spaces. The

designers were tasked with

providing passive daylight

harvesting despite a

masonry palette. Despite

the Georgian aesthetic,

passive daylight harvesting

is provided throughout.

Every occupied space,

whether for staff or patrons,

benefits from natural

lighting. Where privacy is

called for, obscuring etched

glass is installed.

While the elevation pulls

from traditional Georgian

organizational elements and

materials, the building takes

the form of an exterior shell

that has been pulled open

to reveal a bright and airy

interior.

A12.02

The second-floor loft is

comprised solely of a

student lounge, a loft space

offering a variety of mobile

seating. The open space

and flexible furniture

encourage students to

rearrange for their

purposes.

The loft overlooks the

dining area to the west and

has lush tree canopy views

to the north and south.

The outdoor terrace on the

north provides outdoor

seating overlooking the

“Big Backyard.”

A12.03

A12.04

This university is located in

a coastal city with a regional

priority to reduce

stormwater impact on the

municipal system.

Additionally, the new facility

is in a district of campus

already prone to flash

flooding and standing water.

Unused and outdated

sports courts were

unintentional retention

ponds after the city’s

frequent heavy rains.

In an effort to maintain and

even reclaim green space,

the building is sited on an

existing parking lot.

Aside from building within

the urban density of the

existing dorms, this site was

also adjacent to a popular

cross-city bike path. A

tenant space with

independent access was

built into the project to

house a future bike rental

and repair shop during the

day and a 24/7 student

services desk after hours.

EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS

EXISTING

DORMS

EXISTING

HOUSING

EXISTING

DORMS

EXISTING

DORMS

BUILDING

SITE BIG BACKYARD

A12.05

This project is a balance

between the building and a

redeveloped community

lawn, affectionately referred

to as the “Big Backyard”.

The building simultaneously

acts as a buffer and

beacon; it formally screens

parking to the south while

attracting pedestrians from

the community lawn to the

north.

The existing service drive

was repaired and enhanced

with a parking area for food

trucks.

A permeable paver plaza

doubles as unseen

underground stormwater

retention around the entire

building. The community

lawn is sloped up on three

sides, alleviating existing

stormwater runoff issues.

The berms also create a

subtle boundary, drawing

people in for frequent

university functions.

BIG

BACKYARD

THE

HUB

EXISTING

DORM

EXISTING

DORMS

EXISTING

HOUSING

EXISTING

HOUSING

EXISTING

DORMS

EXISTING

DORMS

EXISTING

HOUSING

A12.06

The double-height

common space acts as a

porch, providing shade or

shelter without diminishing

the ability to experience

the weather in comfort.

Outdoor seating allows

patrons to spill out to the

plaza, or enjoy a picnic in

the Big Backyard.

The main stair has a

minimal footprint and

centralized to encourage

access to the student loft.

By placing the retail and

support spaces within the

masonry volumes, the

community areas share

expansive views thru high-

performance curtainwalls.

The LED lighting system is

highly efficient, but rarely

used during the day due to

abundant daylighting.

A diverse range of services

allow students to dine in,

nestle in to study, or grab a

snack on the way to class.

A12.07

Although largely unseen,

site hydrology was critical

to the success of this

building. The permeable

plaza has enough retention

capacity to have a net zero

or better impact on the

overburdened stormwater

drainage system and to

encourage groundwater

infiltration. Rain chains

convey water directly to

subsurface retention. The

system performs so well it

allowed the lawn area to be

sloped ‘toward’ the facility,

catching sheet flow that

previously caused flooding

in nearby buildings without

a single visible catch basin.

The facility is conditioned

by a high-efficiency cooling

tower and ground source

heat pumps. The water

loop has an input for future

connection of a fully

designed geothermal well

field which the university

intends to install under the

‘Big Backyard’ to further

offset energy use.

A12.08

The design aesthetic

reinforces a connection to

the surrounding coastal

community. This helps

establish a sense of place

for first-year students.

The beloved coastline

which defines this region is

formed of warm woods.

University colors are used

to accent the space without

overwhelming the neutral

palette.

The school mascot, a

seahawk, is seen as

polished aluminum artwork

over an abstracted ocean

horizon.

The building sits

comfortably within the

traditional fabric of the

campus while providing a

fresh perspective.

A12.09

Georgian architecture calls

for ornate detailing and

fenestration at the center of

the façade, often in the

form of an entry and

transom. This project

presents traditional

masonry volumes

proportioned to compliment

the central volume, where

the geometric structural

and curtainwall systems

are a modern interpretation

of this design principle.

Custom designed rain

chains are located at the

center of this composition,

eliminating the need for

downspouts and providing

a focal point on rainy days.

The rhythm and symmetry

of multi-paned windows in

the architecturally detailed

masonry walls honor the

architectural tradition, while

the central vestibules and

glazing reimagine it.

A12.10

Through delicately

designed structure, HVAC

and lighting, the interior is

able to shed ornament and

focus on unobstructed

views toward the tree

canopies and open lawn.

The roof’s overhanging

eaves minimize direct

sunlight and unwanted

solar heat gain, allowing

generous indirect light in.

Simple exposed trusses

and noise-reducing metal

deck eliminate

reverberation and by

keeping the roof clear of

mechanical obstructions,

indirect lighting can be

diffused and bounced off of

the deck.

A12.11

Two large diameter fans

over the central dining

and student loft churn the

conditioned air at a low

velocity and provide a

quiet and comfortable

atmosphere. Blades

accented with University

colors add interest to on

an otherwise unseen

HVAC system.

In order to create a

comfortable ambience,

warm accents and

materials were placed

throughout the building.

These tactile elements

balance the use of glass

and steel.

A12.12

An achievement in

environmental stewardship

and exceeding student

expectations, the “Hub”

bridges traditional with

modern in an efficient and

attractive facility.