The new facility of the university will be a 11,800 square feet building, which will replace the three old obsolete buildings. Designed by US-based architectural practice Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle Limited, the new facility’s design will mimic the Itasca State Park’s rustic aesthetic.
The new facility is expected to accommodate laboratories, classrooms, a 150-people capacity multipurpose gathering room, a library and administrative offices. The scheme is being designed to meet Minnesota B3 requirements and is being aspired for LEED Platinum certification.
The facility will incorporate several sustainable elements, which include day-lit laboratory classrooms, operable windows and skylights for natural free cooling, the installation of geothermal heating and cooling system and composting toilets. The southern side of the building will be exposed to sun, for reaping the benefit of solar gains in winters.
The building will be accessible from two directions of the main campus by means of two, landscaped pedestrian links. The landscape will feature native vegetation, which will be placed strategically to provide solar shading of the building and filter water of the site.
The materials to be used for the scheme will consist of painted wood siding, field stone, wood windows and asphalt shingles. The building will feature three gabled roof portions that will have a low-sloped roof in between.
Construction on the project is expected to begin in April 2013, with completion scheduled for December 2013. The university has roped in Kraus-Anderson Construction Company Incorporated to provide construction management services for the Campus Center.
