Location: Kalamazoo, MI

Project Area: 73,300 SF

Year Completed: 2010

Honor Award – AIA SW Michigan Chapter

Shifting economic times created an increased demand for the classes and services offered by Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) and put a strain on existing facilities, particularly the college’s original Texas Township Campus. This project was designed to redistrict, expand, and refurbish campus areas for classrooms, labs, faculty offices, and student services, while providing additional parking and streamlining maintenance and material supplies to the 800,000 SF campus.

The addition brings all student services together under a single roof to improve access to departments, aid in student enrollment and retention, and improve the overall student experience. The addition also houses a tiered, 150-seat lecture hall/orientation room and the central receiving/distribution facilities for the college.

The project’s overtly sustainable design is intended to inspire students and visitors as well as set new environmental standards for the college to follow on all future projects. To address the College’s desire for sustainable design, the addition was designed to follow the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System devised and maintained by the U.S. Green Building Council, with LEED Silver V3-level certification as a primary target. Both the addition and renovation were designed to minimize energy and water consumption and provide a healthy building environment with improved air quality.