Southern State Community College Fayette Campus Expansion

The need for increased classroom and office space provided the Owners of this project, a small community college in south-central Ohio, with the opportunity to give their existing, fairly innocuous facilities a new public face, presenting an updated and welcoming presence to the community. Building on the metaphor of a great public Learning Lantern and engaging its surroundings at the scale of the nearby interstate, the projects primary focal element is a large multi-purpose lecture and community meeting room at the hinge point of the addition. The over-scaled single-slope roof slab and clerestory glazing of the Meeting/Lecture Hall partially translucent to mitigate glare and insulated to minimize heat-gain face the communitys two primary thoroughfares, announcing the colleges presence and inviting residents in to make the most of this valuable community asset. The two wings of the addition lightly embrace the existing construction and create a new, light-filled central courtyard for casual and academic use. The circulation is clear and intuitive, anchored by the central figure of the Meeting/Lecture Hall, with a gracious lobby that doubles as a break-out space/student lounge with views through, both to the courtyard and the surrounding landscape. Day-lighting is a priority throughout, with floor to ceiling glazing on appropriate facades and views to the outside from all occupiable spaces.