“We hope that as you approach the building – by car, bike, or on foot – you feel a sense of arrival, excitement, and pride to be part of this campus community,” Kassabian said.

A Welcoming Architectural Gesture that Blends Beauty and Function

As the new front door to campus, the Student Services Complex is strategically located off a new entry road, Tamien Way, where clear signage and a curbless plaza remove barriers and reinforce the college’s commitment to making its campus accessible to all students. Bringing student services and administrative offices together in a central location, the 74,000-SF building showcases a distinctive curved massing that evokes a welcoming embrace and draws people to the entrance. Its gently curved form draws design inspiration from San José’s natural landscape, including rolling hills cinematically framed in the breezeway between the Student Services and Administrative wings of the building.

Integrating visual elegance and energy efficiency, vertical fins along the building’s glass façade add tonal texture, enhance energy efficiency, and optimize solar shading. A large canopy over the central plaza screens light from the rising sun while drawing attention to the more public-facing side of the building. A curved glass oculus is a visual anchor, marking the junction between the Student Services and Administration wings. Open to the sky and the plaza below, the oculus contributes to the well-being of students, staff, and faculty by drawing natural light into the central interior lounge at Level 2 and creating visual connections to the outdoors. Illuminated by a perforated, backlit ceiling, the oculus becomes a glowing beacon at night. The breezeway below guides students and visitors to the campus buildings beyond and serves as a gathering space for events and informal student interactions, reinforcing the inclusive and engaging campus environment.

Meeting Students’ Needs with Modern, Human-Centered Design

By centralizing vital student services and administrative offices, the Student Services Complex enhances access to information, builds connections between students and staff and promotes collaboration and social health. The design consolidates services such as financial aid, admissions and records, and expanded health and counseling services with spaces such as a lactation room, meditation room, administrative offices, and dedicated veterans’ services area. This integration streamlines students’ experiences and fosters a sense of belonging from the moment they arrive as first-year students through graduation.

The building’s interior prioritizes easy, intuitive navigation while reflecting the cultural richness of the Evergreen Valley College community. In the double-height lobby, a multilingual “Welcome Wall” celebrates the many languages spoken by the community. A custom light fixture over the Welcome Desk draws students to guidance and assistance. Color-coded departmental entrances provide wayfinding beyond written English text. A variety of seating options, flexible gathering and meeting spaces, and a rooftop event space contribute to a warm, inviting environment that encourages students to gather and linger on campus.

“With well-designed spaces, the new Student Services Complex sends a message that our community college students deserve the best,” said Evergreen Valley College Vice President of Administrative Services, Dr. Andrea Alexander. “This is where design excellence meets student satisfaction, pride, and academic success.”