A Contemporary Sense of Place for a Vibrant Campus
The University at Albany’s original campus center was designed in the 1960s for a university with 10,000 students. More than 50 years and an additional 7,000 students later, the center needed significant improvements to support an institution with a rapidly growing global reputation for academic excellence.
The $62.2 million Campus Center expansion included a 21,000-square-foot East addition and a 55,000-square-foot West addition. The LA Group supported the University with a new courtyard design that would integrate longstanding design principals on campus with contemporary needs.
Representing integrations of all kinds, from historical perspectives to LEED Silver Certification standards, the balanced solution was a collaborative effort involving a comprehensive buy-in and input-gathering process from a variety of stakeholders.
The resulting design met project goals by:
- Developing a more open and aesthetically pleasing courtyard for dining and group activities
- Removing stairs and designing sloped walks for increased accessibility
- Enhancing the adjacent bus stop to support increased mass transit use
- Landscape and site amenity improvements to encourage outdoor socializing
- Designing an appropriate entry plaza for a campus facility at the heart of student activity with two rain gardens and perimeter landscaping
