Molloy College’s New Public Square Attracts Attention
NEW YORK — Molloy College in Rockville Centre, N.Y., long known as a commuter college, is trying to position itself as a 24-hour learning community with a new campus center.
BRB Architects of New York recently built a 57,000-square-foot campus center also known as the Public Square. The building features a café, lounges, study rooms, student club space, a bookstore, an art gallery and a 550-seat theater.
“The Madison Theater is a new amenity at Molloy College, and is intended to serve not only the teaching and gathering needs of the campus, but is an invitation to the surrounding community to engage and participate in varied artistic and cultural events,” said Mark Maljanian, design director at BRB Architects.
The building also has sustainable design components targeted at gaining LEED certification. Overall, they are intended to minimize storm water runoff and heat absorption in parking areas and on roofs; ensure good air quality; maximize daylight and views; reduce water and energy usage; and build with regionally obtained materials, low-emitting paints, carpeting and composite wood products.
The building is designed to minimize direct solar gain and has extensive day-lighting to harvest diffuse daylight. It also features a high-efficient HVAC system with heat recovery and naturally ventilated offices. Molloy won’t know if the building has earned a LEED certification until further reviews are conducted.
BRB began working with Molloy on a campus master plan in 2003. As a result of that process, the college made a new student-learning center a high priority to transform the commuter school to a 24-hour learning community.
The design of the Public Square started at the end of 2005, but the project was delayed by local site planning processes and the financial uncertainty and credit crunch of 2008. Construction was completed in time for students to start classes in fall 2011. The total project cost around $33.5 million.
Firms that worked on the project included Damon G. Douglas Company as the construction manager, Surepath Construction Services as the owner’s representative, Cameron Engineering as the civil and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer, Robert Silman Associates on structural engineering, Charles Cosler Theater Design, Shen Milson & Wilke as the acoustic and audio visual consultants, Post & Grossbard Inc. as food consultants and Consentini Associates on lighting design.
“There were a number of challenges, but perhaps the most critical was the creation of a series of spaces where the flow of activities and energy from individual use patterns would energize and enliven the entire building,” Maljanian said.
The design team placed the cafe, study spaces, art gallery and lounge spaces in central locations where students could see and be seen. The center features at 550-seat theater as well as rehearsal and office spaces for the music department. They also isolated quiet spaces like offices and classrooms.
“I was out at Molloy College one Friday evening recently, and found the building well occupied long after all classes had ended for the week,” Maljanian said. “That the Public Square is so well received by the Molloy community is tremendously gratifying.”
The open feel of the building is highlighted by a large skylit atrium that connects the spaces vertically.
“The Public Square provides our community with a much-needed gathering place the campus formerly lacked,” said Drew Bogner, president of Molloy College. “It’s been a long time coming, and we’re grateful to the entire design team for their expertise and commitment in helping the college fulfill its vision.”