Page 52 - College Planning & Management, March 2018

Facility Focus STUDENT SERVICES
Northern Arizona University
Student and Academic Services
SITUATED WITHIN THE largest stand of Ponderosa pine forest in the world, Northern
Arizona University’s Student and Academic Services (SAS) building in Flagstaff is a 94,444-square-foot, four-story, LEED Gold- accredited building designed by
DWL Architects + Planners.
Centrally located, the site is adjacent
to public transportation and all campus amenities. The facility houses a medley of academic and administrative programs which include a one-stop shop for cur-
rent and perspective student services, Undergraduate Admissions, Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid, and Student Ac- counts, among others. It is also home to the Lumberjack Mathematics Center (LMC), a program that combines in-class and multi-
modal laboratory instruction facilitated by a 250 work-station lab. The LMC features reconfigurable classrooms equipped with the latest multimedia and social media interfaces and a testing center.
In addition, the SAS building houses conference rooms, independent study areas, department and faculty offices, and numerous private and semi-private spaces for self-study or collaborative sessions.
The facility’s development and resulting design emphasize a three-tier functional and circulation hierarchy that promotes the logical and efficient organization of the spatial requirements inherent in such a diverse program. The architectural character of the SAS build- ing celebrates the unique attributes of its surrounding natural and institutional
environments. Specifically, the build- ing’s exterior draws its inspiration from the biologic forms of northern Arizona’s ponderosa pine forest and the contextual character of the existing campus archi- tecture. Internal spaces employ distinc- tive volumes, natural forms, inductive circulation, and local colors to foster a sense of place unique within the academic environment in which it is located.
The furnishings were carefully
chosen for their abilities to facilitate student-centric services and to encour- age a diverse range of opportunities for personalized learning. The design was carefully executed to fulfill one or more of the project’s established program goals for its functional, aesthetic, and sustainable properties. CPM
50 COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / MARCH 2018
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PHOTOS © KYLE ZIRKUS PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF DWL ARCHITECTS