The existing solid façade is being replaced with extensive high-performance glazing that strengthens the connection between the interior and the wooded exterior landscape. | Photo Credit: MCA
By Lindsey Coulter
Photo Credit: ABA
West Valley Community College’s Learning Resource Center is in the midst of a significant renovation. The 59,000-square-foot 1970s-era structure located in Saratoga, Calif., was originally built to house the college’s library, digital media center, recording studio and various support programs. However, the facility will soon become a true campus hub thanks to the design ingenuity of Anderson Brulé Architects (ABA) and Mark Cavagnero Associates (MCA) of San Francisco. The team has worked in equal partnership to transform the dark, dated structure into a bright, inspiring anchor for the campus’ northeast side.
The state-funded project also aims to build a stronger campus culture and sense of cohesion, driven by the shared vision to “Create a beacon for success and growth. A center for academic and professional advancement through collaborative exploration.”
Construction, completed by general contractor Swinerton with Kitchell serving as project manager, is ongoing, and substantial completion is anticipated by the end of April. The building is expected to open to students by the beginning of the fall 2025 semester.
Interior Revitalization
Given the building’s solid structure—which helped it withstand the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake—renovation, rather than new construction, offered a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for the college’s spatial and programmatic needs.
“The building made for a strong renovation platform; cantilevered columns and no interior braces or shear walls allowed for a lot of flexibility to reconfigure the interior,” said Jason Hull, AIA, LEED AP, associate principal and practice leader with ABA. “The entire structural system and bones of the building were retained and reinforced to make it more seismically safe.”
Despite its sturdy construction, however, the LRC was not equipped to house modern-day building systems, power infrastructure or technology. The original design also lacked sufficient restrooms, offered little natural light and navigation was often a challenge for users.
To address these issues, the building will receive upgraded technology and building systems, improved program spaces, and new furniture and finishes, providing a revitalized home for the library, digital media center, TV recording studio, writing center, makerspace, gaming studios, and various program spaces and resource areas. It will also receive two new faculty-centric interactive hubs.
A New Identity
Photo Credit: MCA
With all of these different spaces, incorporating more direct wayfinding through interior design was a priority. Orientation was established via an avenue that runs from the new entryway into the library. Key services and resources are mostly located off of the avenue. The major gathering spaces that help to define the building’s interior include the library, success center, cafe and interactive hub, which are surrounded by classrooms and offices. Designers also integrated new meeting and collaboration areas, while retaining as much openness as possible.
Many of the interior nonstructural walls and related finishes and fixtures will be replaced to support the new organization of the program. Seismically separated additions were designed for adding new programmatic space.
The building is designed to achieve LEED Silver Certified certification via high-efficiency mechanical and lighting systems, improved envelope energy performance, and use of low -emitting materials and products.
Furnishings and Functionality
To create a greater sense of visual cohesion, the design team considered the exterior and interior holistically, selecting furniture and finishes infused with biophilic design principles as a reference to the building’s wooded surroundings. In contrast to the original monochrome palette, a blend of warm and cool palettes balanced with natural tones will differentiate active and quiet spaces while complementing the natural environment.
“In the main space of the library as well as in the entry court, we have beautiful wood ceilings,” said Ashly Vineyard, NCIDQ, project interior designer with ABA. “We also have linear and horizontal wood that bring a soft natural element, and the patterning in the carpet is inspired by lichen.”
Additionally, as the building was not designed to house complex modern power data, mechanical, plumbing and electrical infrastructure, the renovation will remove poles that were added to bring power from the ceiling plenum down to the library floor and casework. Instead, the power infrastructure will be integrated into the floor and furnishings.
Learn more about the visioning process and the focus on the building’s exterior by reading the March/April digital edition of School Construction News.