Lansing Community College

Narratives

What exemplary ideas do the designs contain that enhance learning?

The project provided unique challenges and opportunities, as the College desired the facility to be iconic and stand out among very strong architectural styles and buildings with large scales. Sited adjacent to an historic Carnegie Library and on an exterior edge of this urban campus, material selection and expression were very important.

The design rests on utilization of a simple form and scale to contrast the various expressions surrounding the site. The program allowed for the University Center to be connected to the Carnegie Library creating a marriage of architectural styles. With this opportunity, the new University Center finds use of its grandfather’s stone banding in a simple concrete cantilever, which defines as well as shelters the main entry.

The glass-enclosed first floor and connecting atrium provides the illusion of a floating box, while the material selection allows for the contrast between transparent and opaque areas. Neighboring buildings offer varying expressions and material selection. Copper is repeated from the nearby State Capital Building rendered in a modern interpretation of its use while brick adorns the “floating box” to add substance to the structure.

Landscape on the ground plane softens the transition from the urban surroundings to the campus edge buffering the building and strengthening the gateway function of the building. Sustainable solutions incorporating sound environmental practices were integrated into the building design through all phases.

What innovations in the planning, programming and design process supported the realization of those exemplary ideas?

The interior functions of the building are as diverse as the neighboring buildings. The Center serves as a satellite facility for each of the six four-year institutions. Each institution has faculty and recruiting space, while the building also contains classrooms for all partnered institutions to teach coursework on-site. This facility provides current students with a seamless transition to convenient, flexible and market-driven programs in one location.
Programmatically, the addition to, and reuse of, the Carnegie Library provide necessary faculty offices, classrooms and break out spaces varying from large group lecture to intimate study rooms. The variety of learning environments and flexibility is important to the success of the project. Over time, different universities will partner with the College offering a wide-range of 4-year degrees to students. This flexibility in degree offerings calls for adaptable classrooms and spaces that can accommodate multiple functions. Observation rooms are able to be sized to classrooms when not in use as an observation room and several classrooms can be adapted to accommodate both large and small lectures.
The University Center project provides a sustainable solution to the College’s challenge: a dynamic edge to the campus, resulting in an identity for the College’s partnership with the university community and space for students to receive a 4-year education.