The Foster Center for Student Innovation designed by architecture and engineering firm Oak Point Associates houses the University of Maine’s Innovation Engineering programme. The mission of the LEED-Silver centre is to provide an environment that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship, leading to the establishment of new knowledge-based ventures.
The facility features conference rooms that are designed to accommodate different gatherings sizes; an open-plan concept to maximise flexibility and connectivity; and a new first floor reception area that is welcoming and visible from the street. The geometry, materials and colour of interior walls help in differentiating between workspace, circulation space and common space.
The site for the new facility is on a hillside oak grove at the centre of the campus, at the edge of a wetland. Instead of aligning the building with the existing road grid, the design team worked with the constraints of slope and wetland to make the most appropriate fit for the building onto the existing site. The building is set back from the road to allow the existing oak grove to be retained, and is oriented to take advantage of the best solar orientation as well as to minimize earthwork.
The building employs a simple shed roof that allows for a floor-to-ceiling glass wall on the south facing facade, creating a voluminous main entrance with plenty of year-round daylight.
The architect maximized the flexibility of interior spaces by placing programme elements on a uniform grid, and by employing the use of large, glass garage doors to allow the seminar room and conference space to be combined with the inspiration space for large gatherings. The open grid also allows for ease of future expansion.
The AIA Committee on Architecture for Education recognized eight educational and cultural facilities built in the US and one in China. The purpose of the design awards program is to identify trends and emerging ideas, honour excellence in planning and design, and disseminate knowledge about best practices in educational and community facilities. The project was presented alongside other winners during this year’s National AIA Convention held in Miami, Florida.
