64
/ BUILDING DIALOGUE / SEPTEMBER 2015
T
he Pavilion’s impact on memory mak-
ing and sustainability education could
be greater than one might presume of
an 11,500-square-foot social gathering
place. The experience begins as a new student
living within this 4.8-acre, 615-bed North cam-
pus living and learning community, Laurel Vil-
lage at Colorado State University.
The recently built Pavilion serves as a sustain-
ability teaching tool with centrally located spac-
es and programming that includes: agora gallery
space, green wall, living slope and amphitheater,
bike repair + education, an office for the campus
“eco leaders” program, classrooms, mail room and
game room – all of which complement the near-
by housing and dining facilities. Programmatic
and site considerations drove the design team of
stakeholders, designers and specialty consultants to
determine how much of an impact could be made
with this 11,500 square feet.
Inspired by the dry climate and prevailing winds
of the area, the team researched, tested and ana-
lyzed data on the project site. Student patterns and
relationship to the natural environment were also
analyzed to align high performance goals and stu-
dent needs while maintaining appropriate massing
and design elements. The resulting design serves
a dual function as high-efficiency building and a
teaching tool, energizing a previously disconnected
area of campus and allowing students to learn and
interact in an environment that prioritizes steward-
ship toward our planet.
The outdoor performance green and connected
living slope function as a village square or “campus
green,” producing a multipurpose gathering space
for outdoor class sessions, student performanc-
Marc Snyder,
LEED AP
Project
Architect
and
Associate,
4240 Ar-
chitecture
