Carroll Community College,
Classroom Building No. 4

The site for the new Classroom Building "K" sits on the edge of the Carroll Community College campus. This 80,000 SF multi-use building promotes life-long learning in a variety of spaces such as English, Math, Computer, and Chemistry Classrooms, Conferencing and Activity Spaces, Offices, a Full-Service Cafeteria, and a Daycare Center. A new glass pedestrian bridge offers a physical connection to the existing campus across the loop road and draws pedestrians from the campus center and the parking lot through a new dynamic gateway. The design of the new facility complements the existing campus’ contextual image by matching exterior materials and color palette. The building invites students and visitors in at three distinct nodes: from the campus parking lot to the Conference Center, from the heart of campus to the Dining Area, and from the loop road to the Daycare Center.

The geometry of the building’s layout addresses the multiple site constraints and accommodates the grade change, as well as opening up to interior and exterior gathering spaces and hubs of activity. Special consideration was paid in siting the building to align with the natural site contours and optimize solar orientation. Solar flat plate collector panels are mounted on the south facing roof to heat domestic water in the building and every classroom has controlled natural daylighting. Classroom wings on all three floors have been designed with break out nodes that create unique spaces overlooking the woods for students to work individually or gather in small groups. This building provides a light, bright, and airy environment to inspire students and staff alike to embrace the tenets of the learning college.