The new College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Building is a 2 story mixed use academic building at the California State University, Monterey Bay campus. The building includes lecture spaces, learning labs, Dean’s suite, offices, recital hall, arts facility, art galleries, research studios, conference rooms, outdoor learning spaces and gathering spaces for students and faculty.
The building is inverted-U shaped in plan and is separated by seismic joints into three sections that wraps around a courtyard. This allows each wing to be more regular in shape for improved seismic behavior. The north and west wings are structurally similar, but the east wing requires tall retaining walls where the building is cut into the side of a hill. The walls are extended to the top of the first floor in order to serve as shear walls for the east wing.
In addition, there is a 2,200 square foot service yard building containing electrical equipment and refuse containers.
Customized Solution
- The Design-Build approach promoted a cooperative environment between CSU and the members of the design/build team, increasing the team’s flexibility in the face of challenges encountered during the design process.
- The use of a variety of building materials allowed for optimized spaces. The first floor consists of steel framing with buckling-restrained brace frames at classrooms and concrete shear walls at the screening room, while the second floor is framed with light-gauge steel walls for greater freedom in laying out the rooms.
- The building achieves LEED Platinum certification, in part through the use of recycled steel and high-volume fly ash concrete mixes.
Highlights
- Architect: WRNS Studio
- Owner: California State University, Monterey Bay
- General Contractor: Otto Construction
- Delivery Method: Design-Build
Team
Paul Rodler
Senior Principal