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A Peek Inside the Academic Commons

10/20/2012

If you've driven the back loop of our Upper and Middle School driveway, you've seen the progress, but do you know what this spectacular new building will contain? To facilitate new ways of teaching and learning, research, collaboration and creativity, the Academic Commons has been designed to be inspiring and flexible and to serve as the core of Upper School student life. Read on for specifics....

Scott Carson, Director of Facilities Management and Construction, has compiled these details about components of the building (due to be complete summer 2013):

The Academic Commons

27,000 square foot library/multi-purpose building
AV capabilities include projectors, monitors, full sound strategically located throughout key work/collaboration spaces
Wireless infrastructure for full building technological flexibility
Designed to meet United States Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Certified
criteria

Board Room (Craigie Board Room)

AV Projection and video monitor system
Advanced lighting control system
Mechanical shade system
Partition system to divide the space into smaller conference/meeting spaces

Lobby

Welcoming entry space with direct access to Craigie Board Room, Student Life Offices, and flex conference room
Glazed wall with direct view into Main Library Hall
Suitable space for high tech, interactive video display system

Student Life Offices

Direct access from Lobby and Library
Located adjacent to a flex conference room

Main Library Hall

7,500 sq. foot, open floor volume with 20’+ gabled ceiling, skylights and advanced lighting controls (The current Reed Gumenick Library can fit within this space).
Sound attenuating materials have been used in the design to help reduce noise transmission
Flooring system designed for simple alterations which can create flex work/teaching spaces, depending on curricular or special event need
Three bay windows at east side of the volume provide direct link from the building interior to exterior, and can be partitioned into separate classrooms, if needed
Library circulation desk projects into the floor plan, enhancing the opportunities for Library staff to interact and collaborate with students.
Reading Porch (Parsons Porch)
1,100 square foot patio that is directly accessible from the east side of the Main Library.
Slightly elevated perch above the Loop Road provides a peaceful, natural vantage toward the eastern (wooded) property line.

Writing/Communications Center

Directly accessible from Main Library with an open floor plan, suitable for
an adaptive program
Sound proof lab/practice room for “noisy” activities and rehearsal

Academic Services Offices

Space for two offices, protected study/conferencing area and testing room
Sound reinforced walls to help mitigate noise transmission

Counselor Offices

Direct access from Library and the exterior

Library Workroom

“Behind the counter” workroom for library staff and related work/ research/meeting and conference activities
Transparent wall between Library and Workroom contains open, glazed casework for archival/art display

Campus Archives and Study Space

Dedicated, climate controlled space to house Collegiate’s historical objects and records
Study Area adjacent to the Archive Room for collection perusal, research and categorization

Communications Offices

Headquarters for campus publications and social media

Printing Room

Directly accessible from Library Workroom and the Commons
Full infrastructure for three-dimensional printing and large format printing

Commons and Canteen

4,700 sq foot triangular shaped open volume with 20+’gabled ceiling, skylights, advanced lighting controls and sound attenuating finishes.
Space is large enough to hold class meetings, or conference style plenary sessions/special events.
Focal point of space is a full height, gas-fired stone fireplace with heavy wood mantle and precast Collegiate flame medallion inset
Wood flooring with toned pattern
Canteen space contains “heat and eat” equipment, rolling food service carts for serving flexibility and fixed countertops for prep. A moveable, veneer partition encloses the Canteen when not in use, and provides storage flexibility during special events

Global Education Offices

Space for Director of Economic Education and Director of International Education

Commons Covered Patio

Directly accessible to the Commons, and the Christian Family Plaza, the covered patio contains space for outdoor dining surrounding a gas-fired fireplace

Sandbox

780 square foot high tech conference/collaborative space for teaching, meeting and “real time” conferencing engagements
Strategically located at the heart (crossroads) of the Library, Commons, Media and Global studies spaces
Solid presentation wall (with sound attenuation) for interactive projection and video display. Remaining wall space is glazed for full visibility and visual linkage to Library core
Advanced lighting controls and mechanical shade systems

Octagon

Six group study rooms with flexible partitions and two classrooms surround a central octagonal open volume.
Octagon extends 30+’ to the primary ceiling, then up to 50’ to the apex of the oculus
Central focal point within the Octagon is a multi-tube cascading lighting fixture made of several 8’ tall and 12” diameter LED tubes, suspended from the apex of the oculus. The fixture is programmable to brighten, dim and change colors depending on time of day and special event needs
Flooring system designed for simple alterations which can create flex work/teaching spaces, depending on curricular or special event need
Direct access to north, east and western exterior.
Northern “porch” of the Octagon consists of a patio space, with view toward grassed open space for special events, and landscaped backdrop

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