Student Success Center Design - Keene State College
The Student Success Center project sponsored by Marvin Windows inspired students to create a building attached to the existing Mason Library on campus. The Success Center involves all the scattered academic support buildings across campus and combines them in a one stop shop. The building contains a Writing Center, Academic Advising, Career Advising, Office of Disability Services/Aspire Tutoring, Shared Spaces, and Main Entrance. The beginning of the semester consisted of Precedent Studies of worldwide student success centers and also Site Studies. This two week study period was followed by programming, which each student had to complete by themself. Students were then asked "what does success mean to you?" From there, we were challenged to create the concept behind our designs.
Conceptual Designs
The spinal cord was the inspiration behind the design. Representing flexibility and stability, it is also a backbone and core. The student success center will be a vital piece to the college, playing the role of the spine, a backbone for students’ success before college, during college, and after college. Using geometry, I was able to create the program for the building within the shape I had created.
I created a new quad area that is a great spot for students to study, and has a direct connection with the third floor outdoor seating area which overlooks the quad. Paths strategically connect to major walkways and entrance points.
First floor contains study areas, a shared computer lab, a cafe and lounge for students, a shared kitchen for students and staff, and the smaller academic support services.
High ceilings and clerestory windows allow this space to be ideal for a writing center. This third floor space also has outdoor green roof gardens and patios to allow students to study and relax.
I created a new quad area that is a great spot for students to study, and has a direct connection with the third floor outdoor seating area which overlooks the quad. Paths strategically connect to major walkways and entrance points.
Site Plan and Floorplans
The site plan is located in the main hub of campus, right along the main pedestrian pathway called "Appian Way." It is attached to the current Mason Library. Since space was limited in this area because of Appian Way and the master plan of a new quad being built to the west, it was crucial for me to build vertically.
Renderings
Completed using Revit and Photoshop