Integrated Collaboration
Research indicates that students who earn an associate’s degree at a community college are more likely to earn their Bachelor’s degree at a college or university. Indiana University Northwest and Ivy Tech Community College partnered to offer a dual degree program to help support long-term student success.
The programming of the facility houses two institutions under one roof—a truly unique situation for a higher education facility. Science labs and fine arts share a home in the new building, designed to offer long-term program flexibility. Housed on opposing ends of the building, each institution has its own identity, with shared spaces to collaborate.
The building is composed of large interlocking masses that relate program elements to the campus and community context. The elongated western building façade is broken down through rhythmic patterns that have a direct relationship to the programs they contain.
To overcome the solar heat gain and glare issues of the glazing areas, a high-performance glass was used along with solar shades and blackout shades where curriculum dictates the necessity for them. The first floor was designed to create high visibility and a sense of security, achieved via floor to ceiling windows that flood the building with natural light.
