Page 28 - spaces4learning, Spring 2021

spaces4learning HIGHER EDUCATION
facilitated installation of the exterior insulation. A balanced, 22% window-to-wall ratio contributes to the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of the building. The generously propor- tioned windows are located on north-south facades, while glaz- ing was limited on the east and west. The selected triple-glazed units balance high visible light transmittance with low solar heat gain. The wood frame of the structure decreases the em- bodied carbon of the dorm.
Achieving the net-zero goal required a large, south-facing, sloping roof with wide overhangs to support 350 photovoltaic panels. More than purely functional, the roof fascia was delib- erately accentuated to give the building a defining, sculptural presence, as well as a symbolic significance: The sheltering roof, a universal symbol of home, evokes a feeling of familiarity for international students who are far from their own families.
Larger Than the Sum of its Parts
Fellows Hall demonstrates the power of design to dramatically improve students’ quality of life and, in turn, their educational experience. It provides both privacy and welcoming communal spaces for CDE students, allowing St. Anthony Hall to serve as an academic center for all students. The new residence hall addresses the specific needs of its unique graduate population while simultaneously enhancing the campus’s shared outdoor
spaces, benefitting the entire Williams community. PBDW worked closely with Williams College to ensure that the design of Fellows Hall honors the school’s rich past while planning for its future.
Anne Holford-Smith, AIA, LEED AP is a partner at PBDW Architects in New York City. Her 30+ year career has been shaped by her continuing investigation of the interplay between new and old across a full range of architectural conditions, including additions to and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, pure preservation projects, and new construction within historic
contexts. Serena Losonczy, AIA, LEED AP is an associate partner at PBDW Architects in New York City and leads the firm’s educational practice. For over 25 years, she has applied a people-centered approach to designing innovative environments (often in historic contexts) for numerous independent schools and higher education institutions, delivering evocative learning spaces with a welcoming sense of place. Committed to sustainability, Serena recently completed a net-zero energy building and the first K-12 school to be LEED- certified in New York State.
Surfaces shaped around you.
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