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Los Rios Community College District Elk Grove Center exterior with large white roof and overhang wrapping 2 story windows
Los Rios Community College District-CRC Elk Grove Center Phase Two

Transparent, Engaging Science Building

Project Location

Elk Grove, CA

Client

Los Rios Community College District

Area

30,000 SF

Services

Architecture, interiors, information technology

Phase two of the Elk Grove Center expands science opportunities at the student-centered, open access Cosumnes River College. This is the first science facility at the community college and will support students with instructional biology, chemistry, and anatomy laboratories as well as much needed support and interaction spaces.

Our design includes large glass walls throughout the interior that connect the labs and interaction spaces and put science on display. We are providing architecture, interior design, and information technology services.



Featured Video
Transparency at Elk Grove Center

Large glass walls, both on the exterior and in the interior of the building, connect labs with interaction spaces, allowing science to be put on display.

Program

Our design includes large glass walls throughout the interior to connect the labs and interaction spaces and put science on display. Circulation spaces double as interaction spaces to encourage students to spend time on campus before and after classes. This project is designed to LEED Gold standards.



01
Design

Maximizing Circulation

Circulation spaces double as interaction spaces to encourage students to extend their time on campus. The faculty office suite includes an area for students and faculty to meet in small informal groups outside the offices.

Upper level hallway with seating lining glass railing, glass walls left creating transparency into classrooms
View into glass walled science lab from partially carpeted hallway white hallway with orange details around doors
02
Planning

Space Efficiency

The initial program, predominantly composed of instructional biology and chemistry laboratories, included 2,400 SF of private faculty office space and an 1,800-SF library. During user-group visioning sessions, it became apparent that the Elk Grove Center did not need additional private faculty offices. Therefore, the design team incorporated a faculty/student collaboration hub within the 1,800-SF office suite and distributed some of the library square footage across two levels. The resulting open floor plan has space for students to study and socialize on campus without violating the FPP programmatic requirements.

Interior view of science classroom with lab tables and seating, counter space and storage line the walls
View of science lab from back of classroom. Lab tables and seating can be viewed from glass wall in hallway, opposite
03
Wellness

Indoor-Outdoor Connection

The building also includes an east facing porch that accommodates seating for informal outdoor academic activities.

2 story interior collaboration space with walkway overhang above, floor to ceiling windows right, and orange ceiling details

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