A Learning Resource Center and Community Living Room at the Heart of Campus in Brentwood, New York by ikon.5 architects

Article source: v2com 

The Learning Resource Center, an innovative state-of-the-art library that provides a vibrant collection of study spaces organized around a dramatic social stair on the Michael J. Grant Campus of Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood, New York, takes its place at the center of the campus, at the confluence of major pedestrian pathways between the Caumsett Student Center and the Health/Sports/Education Center, and between the major parking lots for this commuter college. A simple mass of nine cubes arranged in a three-by-three grid accommodates the library program on two floors. Portions of the cubes are either removed or expanded to create an interplay between negative and positive space that allows the Learning Resource Center to act as a prism that casts sunlight deep into the Learning Resource Center throughout the day. A central lantern rises above the building to create an iconic expression on the campus skyline, a beacon visible from all corners of the campus.

Eastern elevation, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

• Architects: ikon.5 architects in association with Wiedersum Associates Architects
• Project: A Learning Resource Center and Community Living Room at the Heart of Campus
• Location: Brentwood, New York, USA
• Photography: Jeffrey Totaro
• Software used: Autocad
  
• Client: Suffolk County Community College
  
• Structural Engineer: Severud Associates, New York, NY
  
• MEP/FP Engineer: Lizardos, Mineola, NY
  
• Landscape Architect: RDA Landscape Architects, St. James, NY
  
• Contractor: Capobianco Construction, Patchogue, NY
• Site Area: 2.52 acres
• Building Area: 68,000 sf
• Completion: 2017

Eastern elevation at dusk ,Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

The Learning Resource Center presents opportunities for team-based learning, experiential learning, and problem-based learning by providing a variety of learning environments: group study rooms, seminar rooms, flat-floor computer classrooms, open tutoring classrooms, and a 100-seat lecture hall. At the heart of the building, beneath the lantern, lies the Information Commons, which accommodates computer workstations, technology and reference help desks, and casual reading areas. The Center for Academic Excellence is on axis with the Information Commons and flanked by the College’s Writing Center. The College’s Boardroom, Faculty Athenaeum, offices, and Reading Room occupy the second floor, as do the library stacks, which are lined with carrels for individual study.

Western elevation, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

Axonometric view from southeast, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

The building enclosure consists of an aluminum and glass curtainwall and white terra cotta, a departure from the red clay brick typically found on campus, to express the primacy of this learning center. A ventilated rain screen façade, green roof, and photo optic lighting controls are a few design features that incorporate a sustainable approach.

“As a lantern for learning, the Learning Resource Center is symbolically and physically a place on campus for productive collisions between students. The great lantern serves as a campus destination for collaboration and social learning within this commuter school,” said Joseph G. Tattoni, design principal of ikon.5 architects.

View of beacon at dusk, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

LRC at center, flanked by existing campus buildings, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

“The Learning Resource Center serves as the living room of our campus, where students study alone or together, congregate and relax, build community, or simply reflect. The college library has changed over time, from its traditional role as a repository for collections of books and materials to a key role in supporting student learning, exploration and discovery, and enrichment. This new structure just does that. As dean of the campus, my ultimate responsibility is to provide our students with the best academic environment, one that fosters and promotes active learning. This new building, though all of its new spaces, allows us to meet that goal,” said Dr. James Keane, Executive Dean and CEO of the Michael J. Grant campus.

Entry plaza detail, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

Reading roof garden, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

“The new Learning Resource Center will serve as a powerful symbol of the value that the college and its students bring to the vitality of our shared community,” said SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson.

The Learning Resource Center has received honors and accolades from a number of professional organizations and awards programs, including the Chicago Athenaeum, the Architizer A+ Awards, the Society of American Registered Architects, and various chapters of the American Institute of Architects.

ikon.5 architects served as Design Architect for the Learning Resource Center. Wiedersum Associates Architects served as Architect-of-Record.

Reference Reading Room, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

Gallery overlooking campus, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

Entrance gallery, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

Group study room overlooking social stair, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

View from entry plaza looking into Information Common, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

View to Information Commons, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

View of Information Commons and group study rooms, Image Courtesy © Jeffrey Totaro

LRC Design Concept, Image Courtesy © ikon.5 architects

Site Plan, Image Courtesy © ikon.5 architects

First Floor Plan, Image Courtesy © ikon.5 architects

Sustainability Diagram and Building Section, Image Courtesy © ikon.5 architects

Tags: New York, USA

Categories: Autocad, Campus, Community Centre, Learning Studio, Library, Offices, Resource Center

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 6th, 2019 at 6:32 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.