Clatsop Community College

Clatsop Community College
1653 Jerome, Astoria OR 97103
For immediate release
Contact: Nadine Faith (503) 338-2306

Architects Unveil Conceptual Design for College Campus

A series of illustrations showing design concepts for a new Clatsop Community College campus are now available for the public to view. The drawings and photo overlays, designed by project architects SRG Partnership, Inc., can be viewed on the college website at www.clatsopcc.edu.

According to Skip Stanaway, the project’s lead architect, the concept design pays close attention to design principles identified by the Campus Design Committee, composed of College employees and Board members, representatives from the community and the SRG team.

Several of the principles identified by the Campus Design Committee include the creation of a student-centered learning environment, the campus as a “gathering place,” and the fostering of community relations. These principles are evident in various features of the design, particularly in how the concept of “movement.” The campus and buildings are designed to encourage engagement and interaction with many large and small gathering and study places as well as convenient and welcoming access from the “informal” south entrance to a community room, bookstore, student services area and main elevator bank. An open greenspace on the “formal” north face of the campus, flanked by the library and art gallery, would also accommodate special outdoor events.

Another important design principle defined by the committee is to celebrate the unique physical and cultural landscape of Clatsop County. SRG’s concept celebrates the area’s unique and ever-changing weather through the generous use of glass and a tiered structure from two stories on the north side of the building to four stories on its south side. This not only provides plenty of natural light, but also allows for unobstructed views and a sense of bringing the outdoors inside.

The design committee defined the importance of long-term value, based upon strong sustainable practices as one of its principles. Energy and maintenance savings are incorporated into the design and materials recommendation for the main building. To take advantage of the timing and direction of prevailing winds and daylight in heating, cooling and lighting, the main building is laid out on an east-west axis. Exteriors of metal sheathing are being considered, which will reduce long-term maintenance costs. In addition, the design anticipates rainwater collection from rooftops to be used in landscaping, water features, and possibly even to flush toilets.

In order to establish a campus that meets both current and future needs, the design provides sufficient additional floor space to accommodate nearly a 40 percent enrollment increase. Future buildings can also be constructed on the site, adjacent to the proposed library and over a portion of the proposed parking area to the south. Classrooms are designed to be flexible and technologically equipped to accommodate a variety of teaching subjects and styles, anticipating future change in both curriculum and teaching techniques.

Underground as well as surface parking will accommodate over 400 vehicles, nearly doubling the parking space available at the Jerome Ave. campus. Because some parking will be underground, with access to the main elevator, students with disabilities will be able to access all areas of the campus conveniently. Delivery and service vehicles will also be directed to underground access points, avoiding traffic flow across main pedestrian areas.

Construction techniques appropriate to the site and materials intended to provide long term savings and value are being incorporated into the design. In the meantime, the SRG team is working with college staff to refine the specific interior layouts, all of which will ultimately lead to fully developed architectural plans.

For more information about the project, to see design images or to ask questions or submit comments to the Campus Design Committee, go to www.clatsopcc.edu/campus.

Image 1: Site plan and first floor: click on image for larger view.

Image 2: Basememt: click on image for larger view.

Image 3: Second, Third, Fourth Floors: click on image for larger view.

Image 4: Campus Concept Drawing: click on image for larger view.
(updated 9/20/06)

Image 5: Aerial photo of site: click on image for larger view.