Diamond and Schmitt Architects designed the facility in collaboration with New Mexico-based Studio Southwest. The three-story Student Union building spanning 65,000 square feet has been designed to serve as a centerpiece of student activity and will provide expanded facilities to serve a growing student population.
The building is organized around a central atrium and sheltered outdoor courtyard to promote connection with the wider community. The lobby has been made open and visible through the use of full height glazing. The ground floor is designed to house a ballroom and conference facility, bookstore, café, theater and post office. The upper floors include lounges, a games room, computer lab, student service offices, and meeting rooms. A student governance room has been placed at the center of the facility and floats within the atrium space, bridging both wings.
According to Donald Schmitt, principal at Diamond and Schmitt Architects, the design is a contemporary expression of the character and landscape of the campus with the stone defining the building base. Energy-efficient glazing helps in maximizing day lighting for the main public spaces. The third floor is set back under large extending roof planes, reducing the overall scale of the building and providing shade and covered terraces to the third floor occupants. Green roofs to the north provide rooftop assembly areas and spectacular views to the mountains beyond.
The project is targeted to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-Silver certification. Sustainable design features include geothermal energy, architectural shading of south-facing glass by metal sunshades, high insulation values of roof (R-38) and wall (R-25) assemblies, high efficiency lighting, water harvesting and renewable wood sourcing.
