TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

NEW STUDENT CENTER FOR VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

NEW STUDENT CENTER FOR VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE - CHESAPEAKE CAMPUS - STUDENT CENTER

Community colleges are leading the effort to educate and retrain

CREATING A STRONGER SENSE OF IDENTITY

an incredible number of Americans to meet the challenges of an

(Emphasizing Both College + Community)

ever-changing world. A new student center can play a pivotal role

A new student center can mark a bold transition to a more

on community college campuses to broaden on-campus learning,

collegiate campus. Unlike a typical campus academic building,

to enhance institutional identity, and to reach out to the distinct

a successful student center needs a more extroverted focus and

needs of the community college population.

expression. By projecting the buildings lively activity to the

outside, the student center can draw students in and contribute an

KEEPING STUDENTS ON CAMPUS

attractive new image that enhances a sense of both campus culture

Some of the most important learning takes place outside of the

and community.

classroom. Forecasting the right mix of amenities and programs

to keep busy, commuter students on campus is a challengebut

REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT

defines the success of a good community college student center.

With one foot in the academic world, and the other firmly planted

A rich mix of uses can bring together the remarkably diverse body

in the realities of working adulthood or the financial strains of

of students that attend community college. The design should

higher education, many community college students balance

strategically locate the buildings program to support the kind of

a wide range of responsibilities. Specific programs (like child-

student interaction and development that keeps them active

minding) offered in a community college student center serve this

and learningon campus.

unique population and provide the resources to meet students in

the ways they need to succeed.

TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

NEW STUDENT CENTER FOR VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

WETLANDS

EXTERIOR ELEMENTS + MATERIALS

As the first corner of an ambitious build-out for a growing campus, this project needs to stand confidently both in the interim, as a promise

EXISTING
CHANNEL

of things to come, and in the future, as an appropriate companion to a significant new construction including a Performing Arts building and
Learning Resource Center. The design for the buildings exterior reflects these expectations while also trying to establish a more collegiate
campus architectural character and to frame, highlight, and respect the unique wetland landscape to the north.
A glazed colonnade at the buildings first floor combines with a grand second floor window-box and a metal roofed third floor attic story.

EXISTING
POND

CONSTRUCTED
STORM WATER
WETLAND

Modest roof terraces off the third floor event spaces offer another way to showcase activity inside. Careful use of curtain wall, translucent
panels, and storefront glazing on the south and north faces of the building takes advantage of the best opportunities for views in and out, as well
as optimal solar management. South facing glass is shaded with integrated sun-screens or overhangs.

SERVICE
DRIVE

The north facing caf opens to even, indirect light and an outdoor dining deck near a constructed storm water wetland and amenity pond. The
distinctive, natural setting of the campus wetland sanctuary suggested selective use of wood as an interior material that can be seen from the
STUDENT
CENTER

outside through the glass. The warmth that wood ceiling decking gives is desirable in the main gathering spaces of the building, particularly in
the games mezzanine and caf, where it adds to a boardwalk that extends the entry portal into the landscape.

ACADEMIC

CAMPUS PLANNING + SITE STRATEGIES

The Student Center project was concurrently designed and built with a new academic
building project. The two projects have been considered in combination for campus
planning purposes. This approach led to a Precinct Plan that included proposed sites
for the two buildings, new parking, extended campus infrastructure, and the first portion
of a future quadrangle or central green space. The Precinct Plan focused on key campus
goals: concentrating parking along the perimeter of campus and organizing future
building sites around an open green.
The new student center site takes advantage of its position fronting both the new campus
green space as well as a distinctive, tidal wetland landscape to the north feeding the
Elizabeth River. The buildings recreation spaces and caf will spill out to a lively terrace
edging this unique wetland---engaging the special portion of campus at the heart of their
designation as an Audubon sanctuary. The shaded entry court acts as an outdoor atrium
for the new building and will frame a campus-wide portal that extends views and a path
out into this remarkable landscape. By replacing a small amount of existing parking,
the new green space can extend from the new building entry ways to the two existing
campus buildings---as a safe, pleasant, collegiate landscape connection.

TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

NEW STUDENT CENTER FOR VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

PROGRAM

CONTEXT

THIRD FLOOR

This Student Center will be a focal point,

TCC is the second largest of the 23 community colleges in

a crossroads, and a gathering place for

Virginia, enrolling more than 37,000 students annually. With

students, faculty and visitors at the College.

The building will contain student activity

ambitious goals for each regional campus, TCC is becoming

MULTI PURPOSE MEETING

A+B

TERRACE OVERLOOK
TO WETLANDS
ELEV
LOBBY

EAST STAIR

and recreation spaces, lounge / study areas,

STOR

WOMEN

meeting rooms, a caf / food service venue,

ROOF BELOW

ROOF
BELOW

range of programs and services enlivened by partnerships

TRELLIS

MEN

MECH EQUIP

with movable walls for student events and

conferencing, a fitness center, a flexible

EAST
STAIR

space for student organizations, and an area

cultural diversity, lifelong learning, and a comprehensive

OFFICE

STUDY
MEETING

a range of multi-purpose event rooms

a national model of a comprehensive community college for

the 21st Century---through its commitments to open access,

OFFICE

and proactive responses to change.

ROOF BELOW

ELEV
LOBBY
STOR

Forty-five percent of the regions residents who attended a

CATERING SUPP
MULTI PURPOSE EVENT
TERRACE

dedicated to child minding services.

TERRACE

college or university in Virginia last fall were enrolled at TCC.

The college continues to grow as the choice of the regions

THIRD LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

Each major component of the Student Center

students beginning their baccalaureate program. With this

program has a prominent location in the

trend in mind, the Student Center project highlights a new

building plan and finds useful expression

on the exterior---to draw students in and

dedication to promoting student success. By providing a

SECOND FLOOR

student-friendly campus living room with wide range of

welcome them to join in and stay on

STAIR
TO DINING

campus. For instance, the main informal

gathering space, called the Commons, will

a sense of belongingand with it, a sense of pride in the

GAMES LOUNGE

act as an all-campus front porch facing the

social, recreational, and service spaces, TCC will promote

OVERLOOK TO DINING BELOW

ELEV
LOBBY

STUDY MEETING LOUNGE

new lawn. Likewise, the Fitness Center is

EAST STAIR

STUDY

WOMEN
E

college and a connection between fellow students.

STUDY MEETING

MDF

CONF / MEETING

OPEN TO BELOW

STOR

VENDING

directly above this porch on level two and

opens out through a glass faade to light up

STUDY
MEETING

STOR

STUDY

IDF
WOKR AREA

WOMEN

the front of the new building with a vibrant

SGA
LOUNGE

slice of student life. The building is zoned to

WEST STAIR

STUDENT
ORGANIZATIONS

ELEV LOBBY

PTK

STUDY

LOCKERS

take advantage of the trellis-covered entry

FITNESS
CENTE
R

court to separate the more boisterous and

active spaces like the event rooms and

SECOND LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

games lounge mezzanine from the quieter

study and meeting spaces.
FIRST FLOOR

DINING TERRACE

DINING
TO THE WETLANDS
BEYOND
MECHANICAL

COFFEE /
BAGELS

FOOD SERVICE
SERVICE
DOCK

TODDLERS

SERVERY

SERVICE

VESTIBULE

INFANTS

CHECK IN
DIR.

MENS

LOCKERS

CHILDREN
BOOKS

STORAGE

INFO
DESK
STORAGE

MULTI PURPOSE
EVENT ROOM A

ENTRY PORTAL

MULTI PURPOSE
EVENT ROOM B

WOMENS

VESTIBULE

MEETING
SEMINAR

ELEC

STORAGE
STORAGE

VESTIBULE
WEST STAIR

MTG

STUDY LOUNGE
MTG

COMMONS

MAIN LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

...\1040_Plans combined.dgn 2/17/2012 1:44:06 PM

EAST
STAIR

ASSIT DIR

TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

NEW STUDENT CENTER FOR VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

The new student center site takes advantage of its position

fronting both the new campus green space as well as a
distinctive, tidal wetland landscape to the north feeding
the Elizabeth River. The buildings recreation spaces and
caf will spill out to a lively terrace edging this unique
wetland---engaging the special portion of campus at the
heart of their designation as an Audubon sanctuary.

200 E MARKET STREET

PH : 434.296.5684

FX : 434.296.4496

www.vmdo.com