Even Odd
Reconnecting Back to Campus
Even Odd
MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS NEW ENTRY ADDITION AT BERKSHIRE TOWERS
Even Odd
Tucked into a remote corner of Western Massachusetts, the MCLA campus lies in the beautiful Hoosic river valley surrounded by rolling mountain ranges, in a city steeped in long history. The streets of North Adams display a combination of industrial, rural and mill architecture. Challenging terrain makes most parts of the campus virtually inaccessible to persons in wheelchairs. The issue of accessibility was one of the main challenges - and generators - of the project. The project site was limited to a very narrow space with approx. 70 feet from the front of the existing tower buildings to the town road. A change in grade of 10 feet across the site also presented significant design challenges.
PRIMARY PEDESTRIAN LINK TO & FROM CAMPUS
 The project involved an addition and renovations to a high-rise college dormitory situated on a hilly site. The dormitory was constructed in 1973. The dormitory towers face onto a busy roadway. As the only building outside the well defined campus, the busy street and towering scale of the complex only accentuated its physically removed fortress like situation in regards to the rest of the campus. The entry level was about 8’ above sidewalk grade and tucked under an imposing canopy that further removed it from the campus. The project needed to gracefully accommodate a major pedestrian gateway to and from the campus core.
AERIAL VIEWS BEFORE CONSTRUCTION Even Odd
Even Odd
NEW ENTRY ADDITION AT BERKSHIRE TOWERS MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Tucked into a remote corner of Western Massachuse s, the MCLA campus lies in the beau ful Hoosic river valley surrounded by rolling mountain ranges, in a city steeped in long history. The streets of North Adams display a combina on of industrial, rural and mill architecture. Challenging terrain makes most parts of the campus virtu‐ ally inaccessible to persons in wheelchairs. The issue of accessibility was one of the main challenges ‐ and gener‐ ators ‐ of the project. We had a very narrow space to work with (approx. 70 feet from the front of the exis ng tower buildings to the town road), and a drop of 10 feet across the site.
Even Odd
Project Type: Educa onal
Project Loca on: North Adams, MA
Project Scope: Accessibility and building security were the driving needs of the project. There was also a need to create as much common and student lounge space within the constraints of the budget.
Program + Constraints: Site constraints including minimal frontage on busy street and steep grade. The ex‐ is ng towers are cut off from the college campus by a town road; the loading dock is in a dangerous loca on.
Site Descrip on: Dormitory complex is tucked in a rocky hillside which defines the edge of campus.
Design Solu on: The design worked with the site using the challenging topography as an asset. A strong connec on back to the rest of the campus is created by loca ng the main entry to the towers at street level on axis with the exis ng ceremonial gate that leads to the heart of the campus. The exis ng loading dock, which was taking up a large por on of the front of the towers, rendering all pedestrian access to the towers very difficult was relocated to the rear of the complex by carving out an access road to the rear. This opened up the space in front of the towers for the new addi on. The enhanced threshold lets the site and building fully engage the ceremonial entry to campus across the street.
Innova ve Building Components and Sustainable Design Elements: Controlled day ligh ng and a ground source heat pump were a priority for the design team since air condi oned space was requirement for the new addi on. Materials were judiciously placed to maximize a ght budget. A cement board rain screen was used on the exterior and this material was repeated inside the entry lobby.
Universal Design Elements: Accessibility of building complex, interior and exterior. He new student lounges provide excellent ligh ng and visual access to campus. All new spaces planned with universal design princi‐ ples; orienta on, ligh ng and acous cs take in to account the needs of the physically disabled, visual and hearing impaired popula on on campus.
Materials Used: Steel frame, masonry and curtain wall construc on.
Parking Spaces: No parking provided. A new pull out space was created on the street for passenger drop off and emergencies. A new loading dock created in rear of building
Comple on Date: March 2009
Construc on Budget: $3.8 million
Cost pr Square Foot: $350.– per sq . .
Collabora ve Design Process: The project was a true collabora on between many different teams, all across the state: Architects, the builder, Massachuse s State College Building Authority (MSCBA), and the con‐ sul ng engineers, From the very first stages of the project we had huge input from the end users. This in‐ cluded: the students and residents of the towers, Dianne Manning, the director of MCLA Office of Student Life, and campus maintenance personnel. We worked very closely with Hal Cutler, a code expert, who pro‐ vided help with a series of building code and zoning challenges.
Even Odd
EXISTING CONDITIONS The original 1970s design for this 8 and 10 story student residence hall provided a a minimum level of accessibility to persons with disabilities.. A long ramp with excessive slope and an irregular surface Made access possible for an athletic person in a wheel chair in good weather. For a normal person in poor weathers, access was impossible without assistance. Providing convenient indoor access for all persons with or without disabilities was on the two primary factors driving the project. The other was the need for student common space, largely missing in the original design. .
ORIGINAL SITE PLAN Even Odd
Even Odd
SITE PLAN I 1/2 story addition with elevator
Facilitates access for persons with and without disabilities
Brings visitors directly indoors and out of the weather
Provides a site for a vehicle lay-by directly outside the entrance.
Provides a controllable position fo the security desk .
Offers an entry in line with the campus gateway and main pedestrian campus axis.
The massing and the roof forms of the new addi on were inspired by the surrounding mountain silhouette. Angled space layout echoes architectural details of the existing towers and terraces; while the existing zig-zag ramp patterns informed some of the new architectural detailing and landscaping. The two side volumes are telescoping out of the overall mass, one of them slightly turned outwards at an angle, taking in the distant views, the light, and visually connecting to the campus.
ADDITION
SITE PLAN
Even Odd
Even Odd
EXTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHS View looking east from campus walkway
Even Odd
Even Odd
EXTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHS View looking Northeast
Even Odd
Even Odd SECTION
Illustrates how the additions reconciles level difference between pedestrian level and main level of existing dormitory.
ELEVATOR
PEDESTRIAN LEVEL
MAIN DORMITORY LEVEL
SECOND FLOOR RENOVATIONS Laundry room lounge and vending area.
Upgraded and expanded apartment for residential director.
New Loading dock area at 2nd floor level . (allows relocation of original loading dock facing street.
UN-SHADED AREA - ADDITION MEDIUM SHADED AREA - RENOVATION
Even Odd
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
Even Odd FLOOR PLANS First Floor Plan: Provides student Common Spaces largely lacking in the existing faculty:
Multipurpose Space
Study/Meeting Room
Flexible Lounge Spaces
Offices for Residential Director and Advisory Board
TOWER B
TOWER A
GROUND FLOOR PLAN (Street Level):
Even Odd
Provides Accessible Elevator connection between pedestrian level and main floor level of the multi-story dormitory.
Provides security control at principal building entry
Provides space for groundcoupled heat pump HVAC system.
UN-SHADED AREA - ADDITION MEDIUM SHADED AREA - RENOVATION
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
Even Odd
EXTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHS Exterior View looking Southeast
Even Odd
Even Odd
A
First Floor Plan
A
Ground Floor Plan
INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHS Entry stair, grade entrance and security desk. Lounge and Study Area
Even Odd
A
Interior spaces are open and flowing, allowing their easy adaptability to various functions by utilizing movable partitions and glazed walls, and creating a sense of openness, lightness and transparency. The open light filled spaces are well suited for individuals with disabilities. These features are further emphasized by the use of light contemporary interior surface materials, simple sculptural pendants, and mobile furniture. The exterior surroundings are allowed to flow inwards, and back, a notion hinted to by a continuation of the exterior paneling inside, and by interior columns piercing the exterior skin and appearing at a street level.
Even Odd B
A
B INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHS Lounge Spaces First Floor A
Even Odd
A
Even Odd
A
INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHS
B A
Even Odd
B
Study-Meeting Room (First Floor)
C
A
C
Even Odd
Even Odd