Cannon Design received one Project of Distinction and two Honorable Mentions in the publication’s national Design and Architecture in Education competition. Nova Southeastern University, University Center, was awarded a Project of Distinction, while Plymouth State University, Langdon Woods Residence Hall and the University of Kansas, Multidisciplinary Research Building were presented with Honorable Mentions.
Nova Southeastern University’s need for modern athletic facilities and a student center resulted in a 344,600 sf University Center fusion facility. The center contains a 5,500-seat intercollegiate sports arena, convocation and recreation centers, a student union and performing arts center. A three-story skylit atrium serves as the facility’s spine, offering access to all program components, as well as informal lounge space for social interaction and relaxation. Located at the heart of campus, the center links residential and academic zones and incorporates an existing dining facility. Generous use of glass maximizes daylighting and affords views of athletic, recreational and social activities within.
To combat community discontent with student competition for rental properties and to attract upperclassmen back to campus housing with contemporary accommodations that offered greater privacy, variety and amenities, Plymouth State University commissioned the development of the LEED® Gold-certified Langdon Woods, a 347-bed, five-story residence hall. Two components, the southerly Sophomore Building and the northerly Junior/Senior Building, are linked by glass connectors that provide a common area on each floor. A fitness center, laundry room, multipurpose/seminar room, cafe, common kitchen and residence life offices occupy the first floor.
A multidisciplinary “think tank” for researchers to share ideas and promote the sciences, the design of the 106,000 sf Multidisciplinary Research Building is driven by the functional needs of a variety of engineering and science research projects and disciplines. Constructed on a fast-track schedule to maximize federal subsidies, the MRB is an anchor point at the edge of the campus, and a key component in fulfilling the vision of the campus master plan. Openness and transparency are valued by the university, and the building opens its arms and reaches toward the campus promenade and distant views. The cascading stairs facing the campus function as a “vertical piazza” through which the scientists and students pass in moving through the building, encouraging interaction and informal conversation. Transparent by day, at night the building glows, revealing the dynamic character of the grand staircase and common areas, projecting the activity within the building outward, defining the entry and symbolizing the spirit of discovery and innovation.
