Clemson University Core Campus

Clemson University Core Campus

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Scope of Project Following a 2002 Campus Master Plan decision to demolish and replace three major buildings in the middle of its campus, Clemson University set out to fundamentally re-imagine the entire Core Campus precinct. The Core Campus Study (completed

by VMDO in 2008) was meant to answer the question: How might forward-looking approaches to housing, academic, dining, and student life programs be combined into an intense, innovative, and dynamic mixed-use center for Clemson University?

The first built project of this planning initiative resolves this question with 285,000 square feet of new, intensely mixed-use space including: 680 student beds in three residence halls atop 1,200 seats of ground floor retail and residential dining – with two of its wings carefully arranged to house and highlight the distinctive Calhoun Honors College. The complex is built at the intersection of a major north-south campus path (connecting the Quad barracks with the historic Fort Hill mansion) and an east-west campus sightline (linking two of Clemson’s most identifiable icons: Tillman Hall tower and Death Valley stadium – shown right).

The project’s guiding design principle was first articulated by the university’s President: to create a vibrant cross-section of campus life that captures the physical manifestation of the Clemson experience.

Size

285,000 GSF

Cost

$84,000,000

Residential

190,000 GSF

Completion

August 2016

Dining

80,000 GSF

Academic

15,000 GSF

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The Quad

BOWMAN FIELD

Tillman Hall

Core Campus

Fort Hill

Death Valley

Cooper Library

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Campus Walk

Bringing this cross-section of activity to light was the key planning and design challenge. The project needed to be both an emblematic symbol and real, buzzing venue. It could be considered a success if, once complete, one could take a visitor by the hand to the center of this new place, turn 360, and take in a sampling of all the best Clemson has to offer.

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Design Strategies and Sense of Place This first phase of Core Campus’ redevelopment fulfills the university’s drive to combine housing, dining, and the Honors College in a way that enhances Clemson’s profile. Making connections to key focal points on campus, visually and physically, was instrumental in building on Clemson’s campus identity to create an inspiring sense of place. The new Campus Walk ties together an arched passageway that connects existing student housing in the Quad with a new residential dining hall and retail dining venues that spill out onto café terraces along the walk. Landscape divides and joins program space, creating a dynamic center for student activity that is full of life both day and night.

The mix of uses programmed in Core Campus pushed expectations for density well beyond what is commonly found elsewhere on campus. Design strategies bring down the scale of the complex while ensuring the architectural language complements both historic and recent buildings nearby. A play on traditional roof overhangs pushes up the eaves – allowing the roof to float over a discreet attic story – thereby diminishing the height of the building. Pulling the distinctive, lantern corner lounges down from the top floor offers up balcony space and brings the scale down even further, particularly along the Campus Walk promenade.

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A Rich Mix of Uses Exploring the benefits of a rich mix of uses was a primary goal of the project – overlapping academic, retail, residential, and student life. A POD market serves nearby residents as well as those in the Core Campus housing. Flexible dining spaces double as student meeting areas and offer late-night options. The new Campus Walk invites students to enjoy cafÊ life outside the retail dining options and engage with events and programming hosted by the Honors College – encouraging interaction with residents, Honors students, and faculty.

Effective as a pedestrian promenade, the Campus Walk has adjacent bicycle racks and doubles as a useful drive on move-in day. It connects and welcomes students into the precinct at a major transit stop along Fort Hill. Equally important is the way the design uses the slope of the site to hide the service drive and loading one level below and underneath the residential dining hall.

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Honors College Experience The Honors Center at Core Campus is the hub of the Honors community – including a mix of 400 first-year through upper-division students who make up the Honors Residential College. Live-in Peer Mentors and Faculty-in-Residence provide focus and bring that community to life – enhancing collaboration and enriching the student experience. The centerpiece of the Honors College is the Great Hall – a versatile multi-purpose space that can accommodate both formal and informal gatherings.

From the Campus Walk, the Great Hall acts as a glowing pavilion showcasing its academic programs and framing its identity.

Dynamic learning areas – including group meeting rooms, seminar rooms, distance learning areas, and faculty support spaces – are enriched by pervasive technology and foster interdisciplinary learning and student engagement. These warm and welcoming spaces act as a powerful recruiting tool with prospective candidates easily seeing themselves fitting into the life of the Honors College. The housing areas are accessed through the ground floor of the Honors Center, enhancing collaboration and faculty interaction. By promoting engagement with other Clemson students and with Clemson staff and faculty, the Honors College creates a personalized livinglearning experience that emphasizes academic development as a central tenant.

Pre- and post-occupancy evaluations are helping to determine how these spaces have influenced students’ experiences related to resident identity, sense of belonging, and engagement. Students have shared that the layout and design of faculty, staff, and student spaces have contributed to a strong sense of ownership and increased participation in the life of the building and the Honors program.

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Residential Life VMDO’s housing design consists of 700 beds of suite-style housing. The configuration of units and open student spaces support a variety of living-learning communities that enrich the student experience. First year students are primarily housed in the south wing of the building while Honors College students are located near the Honors Center in the northern wings.

The double bedrooms housed in the south wing are arranged in a traditional configuration with residents sharing three central common baths on each floor.

The public baths encourage students to leave their rooms and interact on the hall.

Designed as a “wet core” concept, individual compartments cluster together to provide the enhanced privacy that today’s students desire.

The room configuration of the two northern wings offers a variety of unit types for Honors College students. The typical semi-suite arrangement serves as a recruiting tool for younger Clemson Honors Students. Meanwhile, a select number of singles with private baths encourages upper division students to continue to live in the Honors College beyond their first and second years. Most bedrooms and lounges offer stunning views of the football stadium and landscape beyond.

VMDO Architects vmdo.com | 434.296.5684 200 E Market St Charlottesville, VA 22902 1200 18th Street NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036

For more information on Higher Education work please contact:

For more information on Student Housing work please contact:

David Oakland, FAIA, LEED AP oakland@vmdo.com

Michele Westrick, AIA, LEED AP westrick@vmdo.com

Joe Atkins, AIA, LEED AP BD+C atkins@vmdo.com

Frances Lengowski, AIA, LEED AP BD+C lengowski@vmdo.com