American River College STEM Innovation Center

Mark stepped in as Project Architect just before the exterior envelope was constructed. The project demanded Mark to take over seamlessly. Creating a sense of trust with the client, contractor, and DSA field inspector was of high importance. Mark quickly familiarized himself with the project's design and the college's design standards to execute the interior build out of the facility without missing a beat. As a public education project, Mark had to navigate the complexities of DSA's nuanced code compliance policies and administrative procedures. With high-tech interior spaces and core & shell construction administration not yet complete, Mark took new challenges in stride, knew how to find information for unexpected issues, and lead the project's execution with confidence.

This new building makes the STEM disciplines approachable to a community with a high percentage of first-generation college students, and serves as a resource to the larger community beyond the campus. The building’s L-shaped configuration forms two significant new outdoor spaces: a landscaped “STEM Courtyard” to the west and a “STEM Walk” to the east. The placement of the MESA Center at the corner adjacent to the main entry puts STEM learning on display via floor-to-ceiling glazing, drawing visitors and non-STEM students to the building. This collaborative workspace supports this professional preparatory program by facilitating workshops, presentations and small lectures related to STEM. It mimics resources that students might find in their desired workplaces, helping to prepare them for their careers. Glazed operable walls also enable the MESA’s activities to spill out into the building lobby, creating a flexible zone for larger community gatherings.

An indoor Engineering Shop opens to the outdoor Engineering Yard, enabling materials science students to conduct large-scale experiments. On the north end of the building, a Business Center with its own public entry invites the Sacramento community in to take computer classes, get assistance with personal taxes, and participate in community meetings. This room is designed to be highly flexible to support these diverse activities. Throughout the three building floors, a faculty office block is combined with breakout spaces to define a zone for student-faculty interaction. This zone is highlighted by a change in material on both the exterior and interior, creating a visual clue to its location. Custom vinyl graphics on the adjacent community walls evoke an interdisciplinary STEM “kaleidoscope” and are highly visible at night.

The building features extensive daylighting and "cool" roof, contributing to anticipated performance of 15% better than Title 24. The building is designed to be the equivalent of LEED Silver.