CREJ

JUNE 2017 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \

oulder County recognized the need to cen-

tralize its human services into one integrated

space that was easier to navigate than the ex-

isting overcrowded facility housed in a collec-

tion of disparate buildings. In addition to providing

easier access to services for members of the communi-

ty, the reimagined campus, known as the St. Vrain Com-

munity Hub, also needed to be a beautiful and sustain-

able space that was comfortable for clients who often

felt anxious about or stigmatized by taking advantage of

county services, as well as for employees who needed ar-

eas of respite from an often-stressful occupation.

As the first LEED Platinumbuilding in Longmont, the St.

Vrain Community Hub improves the experience for both

health and human services clients and providers. The easily accessible

center supports residents efficiently and holistically, improving commu-

nication and collaboration between departments and ultimately helping

to build a healthier, more stable community.

Boulder County engagedOZArchitecture to design a new75,000-square-

foot addition to the 30,000-sf existing building, connecting the two and

creating an appealing one-stop center for all health and human services

departments with a look, feel and layout that would be welcoming to all.

However, combining more than 10 social service programs onto one cam-

pus, while also ensuring enough space for future needs, was not an easy or

straightforward task.

We spent several months gathering data and analyzing growth pro-

jections and market demand, conducting intense client demographic

research, holding focus groups with multiple audiences, exploring the

client’s values, vision and culture, and examining the implications of inte-

grating these many services into one building.

One of the challenges that needed to be resolved was the city of Long-

mont’s desire for both the new addition and the existing building to blend

into the surrounding historic context of the neighborhood. The resulting

architecture features a stone base, which fits within the context of the

surrounding area. The color of the addition’s masonry was also matched

to the existing building to ensure a seamless transition between old and

new. Where city of Longmont buildings traditionally have brick cornices,

we added a metal cornice for a modern take on a historical detail. Glass

andmetal panels were also added to accentuate the new architecture and

add a touch of modernism.

In addition, the building’s north-south site orientation, and the need

for visitors to be able to access the building with equal ease from both the

St. Vrain Community Hub: Centralized Human Services

Tracy Tafoya

Principal

and Director

of Interior

Design, OZ

Architecture