SEPTEMBER 2015 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \
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es and community social events that
can make use of the outdoor projec-
tion wall. Rising out of the green, the
sloped roof or “living slope” is a verti-
cal feature in an otherwise flat land-
scape. Designed with active students
in mind, the slope allows students to
picnic in warmer weather or sled in
colder months. The living slope con-
nects seamlessly to a second-floor ter-
race with a view of the Katabatic tow-
er, which serves not only as a visible
“campanile” for the village, but also
works in conjunction with a trombe
parapet wall to form a two-part pas-
sive heating and cooling system – the
first-ever implementation of this par-
ticular combination. The system will
save the building a projected 75 per-
cent on annual energy costs compared
with a typical community building.
The main stair wraps around a
plant-covered “living wall,” which uses
a low-maintenance, self- watering sys-
tem to filter the air naturally. Students
on their way to The Spoke: Bike Repair
+ Education, a student-led bike shop,
get a patch of green and a breath of
fresh air as they learn about replacing
a bike tube or adjusting their brakes.
Whatever students are using the Pa-
vilion for, they are always seeing the
structure of the building and its ma-
terials. Cross-laminated timber and
glulam beams paired with local stone
show students how efficient and local
materials are used. The Pavilion infus-
es daily student life with environmen-
tal understanding through interactive
sustainable elements that students
use frequently, making conscious de-
cisions approachable and fun. Since its
opening, CSU has used this building
as a recruiting and retention tool for
students, proving that learning, social-
izing and contributing can work suc-
cessfully on campus. One student on
Instagram commented on a the green
stair, “Is it possible for a human to love
a building?!”
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Photos courtesy 4240 Architecture
FACING PAGE:
The katabatic tower is a visible
“campanile” to the surrounding
Laurel Village, drawing in
students and faculty to meet,
work and learn.
ABOVE TOP LEFT:
The main stair wraps the two-
story green wall, an indoor pop
of green and breath of fresh air.
ABOVE TOP RIGHT:
Students chat on the living slope
at sunset while the building acts
as a backdrop for a film from
the performance green.
ABOVE:
Nestled among housing and
dining halls, the LEED Platinum
Pavilion not only teaches, but
also conserves.
