site planning
The site established for the project encompasses the interior southwest corner of campus. It is bounded by the four-story Augustine Hall and the two-story Saint Albert Hall Library. The area was carefully selected so that it could receive benefit from adjacent support facilities while in return provide a new vitality to the academic community located within the central campus district. In addition, a corner site affords the unique opportunity to define the character of the campus periphery. The building's two-story massing and the detailing of its external façade will serve to breakdown the imposing scale of Augustine Hall's western elevation. Each structure will now work in concert with one another to provide a sense of closure to this corner of the campus.
Orientation and configuration of the building have been designed to build upon the existing architectural traditions of the College. Its formal symmetry seeks to incorporate the neighboring structures by utilizing their massing to reinforce its composition.
By respecting the architectural traditions on campus, numerous opportunities have been created for the surrounding site. The placement of Filippi Hall's new entry plaza supports the design concept of creating a pedestrian mall that will link the perimeter and interior portions of the campus. A terminus for this pedestrian mall is aesthetically and functionally addressed by the addition of an automobile turnaround and sculpture island. The overall U-shape form of this building originated from the desire to create another quiet, reflective courtyard where students and faculty would be encouraged to interact outside the confines of the classroom. Paving and building finishes have been selected that will complements the area's pedestrian nature, while maintaining emergency and service vehicle accessibility. The combination of building placement and the creation of these new outdoor spaces work together in a seamless manner to integrate this project into the campus while serving to establish a distinctive point of destination for this new academic center.
