Norwich University, the country's oldest military school with cadets and traditional students, faced the challenge of two different cultures: strict routines for cadets and flexibility for traditional students. The project brought the two together and provided opportunities for social interaction and learning, created a living room for the community, and maximized resources.
Linking the design process to future projects in the master plan helped align the project and budget. Six cost models for designs were prepared ranging from minimal renovation to all new construction.
The traditional cadet "march down" from the Upper Parade to the campus center was an important consideration. The new Quadrangle, site circulation and overlooks clarify the outdoor spaces and contribute to a strong "sense of place."
The new building, with its large transparent facade opening to the new Quad and beyond, is seen as a new way of making connections to the past while being open to new ideas, new connections and knowing the value of building on traditions.
The building blurs the distinction between indoor and outdoor space, and celebrates winter activities. The new Quad is for recreation, relaxation, and scheduled events, and creates stronger relationships between buildings. Innovative design of the enclosure is used as teaching tool for architecture students and is an overt expression of the University's investment in sustainable design practices. The building offers a unique combination of spaces that enrich the student life experience, provide opportunities to expand socialization, education, recreation, discovery, career services, observation, and exposure to cultural differences.
Although Norwich University did not pursue USGBC LEED recognition, the architect worked with Norwich to establish two tiers of sustainable design at the building scale and at the broader campus scale.
The jury said, "This project reshaped the quad area . . . nice details in the columns and the underside of the canopy . . . defined exterior spaces very nicely."
Project Team: Norwich University with Perry Dean Rogers | Partners Architects; Subconsultants included: EF Wall & Associates; Hallam ICS, Tillotson Design; LeMessurier Consultants, Inc.; Ricca Newmark Design; Richard Burck Associates; Dubois & King, Inc.; Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc.; Faithful+Gould; Kalin Associates; Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, Inc.; Vantage Technology Consulting Group; Haley & Aldrich, Inc.; and Campbell-McCabe, Inc. |
