Campus Projects Update, July 2016
Admission/Financial Aid Building Site Chosen
The site for Grinnell’s new Admission/Financial Aid Center has been officially selected as the southwest corner of 8th Avenue and Park Streets, directly across from the new Humanities and Social Studies Complex (HSSC). Determination of the site as most suitable for the Center was made on the basis of extensive evaluation of several sites completed by Baltimore-based design firm Ayers Saint Gross, Inc. (ASG) with input from a broad base of campus constituents. Before making a final decision, the pros and cons of each option were reviewed with President Kington, the Building Projects Committee, and the Executive and Facilities Committees of the Board.
The affected lots on the west side of Park Street site are currently occupied by the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice (CRSSJ) and other student houses. Decisions are forthcoming concerning relocation of existing structures and alternative accommodations for the CRSSJ and other student and program occupants.
HSSC Design Approved
Earlier this spring the trustees enthusiastically approved EYP architects’ schematic design for the HSSC. The trustees’ action propelled the project into the design development phase, during which ARH-Carnegie Planning Committee and Building Projects Committee members are continuing to discuss and refine a number of interior and exterior design elements with the project team from EYP.
Approval of the design also set building site preparation in motion. McGough Construction has completed needed tree removal and is in the process of relocating utilities in the vicinity of ARH and Carnegie Hall. In addition, three geothermal test wells are being drilled in advance of constructing the full-scale wellfield intended to heat the new HSSC. Members of the campus and residential communities are urged to be safe, vigilant, and patient this summer as workers and equipment ready the southeast corner of 8th and Park for HSSC construction to begin in early 2017.
On July 7th, the Grinnell Board of Adjustments for Planning and Zoning approved the College’s requested height variance, critical to proceeding with the intended design. Grinnell observes a 50’ building height limit. The existing ARH towers already exceed that limit by a couple of feet. Some sections of the new HSSC structure, most notably the atrium roof, will add a few more feet, resulting in a building height approximating 56’. Gaining the board’s approval clears an important hurdle toward the project’s success.
Since EYP was selected to work with the campus community in early 2015, more than 200 campus meetings, forums, workshops, and feedback sessions have been held to solicit input and refine HSSC design. Major topics included the College’s commitments to accessibility, environmental sustainability, and the preservation and revitalization of existing iconic buildings.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What will the HSSC look like?
Below are architectural images from the approved schematic design. Many design elements are still being refined, and these visuals should not be considered final in every detail.
EXTERIOR ATRIUM/East Approach
EXTERIOR/Aerial View from North West
Images Courtesy of EYP Architecture & Engineering
What are some of the HSSC’s most important elements?
The HSSC will have approximately 196,600 gross square feet and a height of three stories. It will include four pavilions – North, South, ARH, and Carnegie – all connected by a central three-story atrium.
The roof and overhang are being designed to take maximum advantage of natural seasonal light. In addition, a portion of the south pavilion roof is being designed as a “green roof”, adding further sustainability impact. Geothermal well fields will help in meeting sustainability goals that aim for a modest net change in energy demand given the large increase in building size.
Major accessibility considerations include bridging of the floor level differential between ARH and Carnegie and placing and pairing of elevators and stairs in and across pavilions. The design also includes wider halls and other features to enhance access by all.
How will the HSSC enhance teaching and learning?
Space in the HSSC will be organized around multidisciplinary centers of gravity to create neighborhoods comprising approximately 40 classrooms, 145 faculty offices, team spaces, and common areas for shared experiences and informal interactions.
The HSSC includes a variety of spaces where “intellectual collisions” can take place, including a Global Learning Center, DASIL (Data Analysis and Social Inquiry Lab), and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA), as well as a redesigned auditorium and social spaces such as the main atrium and coffee bar.
Common rooms, student research rooms, team rooms, and a quiet reading room will support the different kinds of scholarly and creative work that faculty and students are undertaking.
Classrooms with advanced technology will support many kinds of pedagogy desired for an inquiry based approach to learning and facilitate the faculty-student and student-student connections that are the focus of the Grinnell education.
What is the timetable for completion of HSSC?
Currently in the design development phase, the project will progress quickly to the construction documents phase in which architectural designs are elaborated into drawings that facilitate actual construction.
Site preparation work currently underway (Summer 2016) includes tree removal and relocation as well as digging for relocation of power and data lines, and steam and chilled water lines.
New building construction will commence in early 2017. This will take approximately two years. Most of the ARH and Carnegie Hall renovation will take place after occupancy of the new construction, with swing space phased appropriately for occupants and functions currently housed in ARH and Carnegie as conditions necessitate. A “commissioning” stage will involve testing the systems of the building to ensure that they perform as expected. Full occupancy of both the new and renovated sections of HSSC is currently planned for fall of 2020.
While separate campus committees have been working on each Phase I Campus Project, the work of each team has complemented the work of the others. These include the Building Projects Committee; the ARH Carnegie Planning Committee; the Campus Landscape, Entry, and Wayfinding Committee; and the Admission and Financial Aid Committee.
What are the key elements of the Admission/Financial Aid Center?
In addition to its work on site selection, ASG has completed initial data surveys, vision sessions, and preliminary architectural programming for the Admission/Financial Aid Center. The program elements as presented in recent documents include admission and financial aid offices and support, as well as areas designated for public and visitor functions. A “presentation room” component of the admission space will be shared and located in the HSSC. Remaining elements include smaller multi-use spaces, interview offices, and reception areas.
What is the status of the College Comprehensive Landscape, Entry, and Wayfinding (CLEW) project?
Ayers Saint Gross, which has been contracted for design of the College Comprehensive Landscape, Entry and Wayfinding Project, participated last October in a “Design Summit” that included Grinnell planning committee members, design team representatives from all three Phase 1 Campus Projects, and the designers for the Zone of Confluence. The Summit was conducted to help ensure that College and community stakeholders maximize coordination among projects.
Over the winter and spring months ASG worked with the campus community to develop a preliminary master plan that imparts a consistent and distinctive campus character and that reflects the quality and caliber of Grinnell as an institution. Much of the early work involved identifying and configuring campus pathways and defining campus partitions and entries to deliver a mix of campus space experiences, visual engagement, and a cohesive sense of place.
Other priorities include the development of a strong north-south pedestrian connection as well as primary and secondary walkways in the academic quadrant of campus. Key considerations include the preservation of existing trees, accessibility, environmental sustainability, parking optimization, and placement of artwork. Varied-use “character zones,” prairie-inspired landscapes, and garden spaces will be integrated into the campus fabric to provide both interest and function.
Development of the comprehensive plan is ongoing, as it has significant impact on both the HSSC and Admission Center. Wayfinding and signage design are scheduled to continue into October with initial concepts developed this summer.
Stay tuned here for more updates!