Square Footage
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560 gsf |
Program/Scope
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Parking Services Information Booth located at the new entrance drive on the expanding east side of the campus. The facility should be welcoming to students, staff and visitors. Building to provide means for observation of entry drive and parking lots, and also clearance for checking in of large delivery trucks. The program was for an open work area with windows opening onto the entry drive, a single office and small storage space. A sculptor was developing a sculptural assemblage of the school mascot for the entry driveway. The structure and materials were to be compatible with the Coussoulis Arena in the background, which is a frequent destination for visitors. |
Budget / Construction Cost
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Budget was $250,000. Construction Cost was $234,000. Both exclude the cost of the sculpture. |
Unusual Characteristics
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Approach is against the backdrop of the mountains. It is the first building seen as one enters the campus and the first interaction with campus staff. Building is physically separated from the campus by the surrounding parking lots. The sculpture is located in the median of the entrance road. The site is part of a dry, desert landscaping that emphasizes the vehicle intersections. |
Special Challenges
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The site is a narrow 25' median strip of the new Coyote Drive entrance amid parking lots. Facilitating contact for visitors with campus staff for directions and parking was critical. The building had to provide protection of the structure and motorists during inclement weather. The sculptor designed a bronze campus mascot assemblage for the median strip, which was to be integrated with the building. Visibility, both of the building by the public and from the building, were important to the owner. The context of the campus materials and construction in a small building against backdrop of much larger buildings of concrete and steel and also the looming mountains. |
Solution
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The small building is tall and narrow to fit the site, and to provide the visibility for visitors coming to the campus. It is constructed of CMU, glass and an exposed steel structure. The CMU walls extend from the building to create planters and staggered site walls that anchor the building to the ground, and reach out to embrace the sculptural assemblage at the front of the median strip. Large windows provide good visibility of the entrance drive and of the adjacent parking lots, but also provide a friendly, welcoming appearance for visitors. The clerestory and high, large overhang echo the roof of the Arena in the background. The overhang provides shade, clearance for delivery trucks, and weather protection for motorists. Exposed interior structure references construction elements of larger adjacent buildings and enables the building to be filled with light. Exterior lighting highlights the sculpture and at the building provides security around the building at night. The Information Booth provides the base point for interaction with the campus and also sets establishes the visual appearance standard for the campus. |
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