Inspired by the regional landscape of the Catskill Mountains, the form and shape of the Commons is abstracted from the Shawangunk ridge, a local internationally known rock climbing palisade that can be seen from the site and is a unique and special physical characteristic of the University’s location. In order to span over the existing courtyard with a column free enclosure for future flexibility, we designed a structural tube stress skin system that created the angular forms of the pavilion that metaphorically references the Shawangunk ridge. The Commons is designed to achieve a LEED Silver certification by daylight harvesting and views, radiant heating and cooling, recyclable materials and photo optic lighting controls.
For more details and images of Campus Commons at The State University of New York at New Paltz, visit ARCHITECT‘s Project Gallery.
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