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President's message

The new DVC commons/student services project:
DVC's goal is to create a building (or pair of buildings) that is Leed Certified and that creates a new common space for students, separated from learning areas.

The introduction of the commons concept underscores the idea that the college is open and diverse.

Commons defined: a tract of land owned or used jointly by the residents of a community, usually a central square or park in a city or town; a piece of land subject to common use: as a public open area in a municipality.

The project is locally funded by buying bond money and capitalizing on the construction downturn.

The driving force behind the project is green technology!

We are striving to reduce our carbon footprint with the creation of our new multi-building complex.

The architects are not just looking at the building itself, but the materials, the energy usage, and even a strategy to integrate the construction process with the natural flow and circulation of the campus. They are exploring solutions such as a green roof, photovoltaics, reduced demand efficient lighting, less emotive artificial light, water efficiency, low flow in restrooms, the use of regional fixtures, permeable paving, the reuse of rainwater, and much more. They are looking at and exploring all possibilities. Even the existing pond will be made part of the overall system.

The architects are viewing this project as a high profile, global and comprehensive project with broad sweeping implications.

Project goals and objectives:

  1. Avoid the need for swing space. All student services should only have to move once.
  2. New buildings are being designed to reinforce the new campus commons area (central open space.)
  3. Clearly demarcate the difference between social spaces on campus and learning spaces.
  4. Use the design of the building (along with phasing of construction) to create a "street" in the middle of campus to demark the two separate phases and maintain circulation and flow of student foot traffic from the commons area to the upper learning areas. This will also create a more gradual slope for campus traffic that currently exist, making the campus generally more accessible for everyone equally.

In the schematic design, the architects began the process by exploring the shape of the building system and how it would serve the programs and services involved: student services, food services and the culinary program. The design will bring all services to one central area, with the commons project open to the new and existing campus buildings. The architects solicited broad and comprehensive input from all the user groups including all student services areas, the culinary program and food services.

Based on feedback, they also developed a strategy to make the building become a part of the new flow and circulation of campus.

 

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