A Student Center with a Higher Mission
Situated in an elevated position in the heart of campus, the Bellevue Student Success Center (SSC) is a gateway for visitors coming in through the main campus entrance. The center’s layout pictures a student’s “ascent” through his academic career. Entry services are located on the first floor, student support services on the second floor, and spaces focused on celebrating the students’ success are located on the top floor.
The exterior reflects the programmatic organization within the building, with the most active uses visible through a glazed façade. Façades of more inward looking areas have been clad in sand-colored yellow and beige Swisspearl panels. Through the selection of two similar color tones from the Swisspearl Largo Carat series, a dynamic effect.
This project is featured in the Swisspearl Architecture #29. Subscribe to our magazine to get the printed issue.
Situated in an elevated position in the heart of campus, the Bellevue Student Success Center (SSC) is a gateway for visitors coming in through the main campus entrance. The building’s location encourages pedestrian circulation through the building, which has separate entrances on different levels at opposite ends of the building. The exterior reflects the programmatic organization within the building, with the most active uses visible through a glazed façade. Façades of more inward looking areas have been clad in sand-colored yellow and beige Swisspearl panels.
The center is a modern community space and work environment that encapsulates Bellevue College’s spirit and values. The interiors create intentional paths of discovery, reflection, and connection with others. Through the concept of “ascent,” the journey of a student’s collegiate experience is paralleled with that of a mountain hike: the celebration of reaching the summit and the discovery that occurs along the way. Ankrom Moisan’s design uses tactile details to help students move through the building’s open, vertical circulation. Light, warm colors guide students to areas where they can find assistance. Special areas are carved out to give them a moment to pause, reflect, and take it all in, such as enlarged landings on the accent stairway and an intimate seating space tucked beneath it. Throughout the design process, Ankrom Moisan served as advocates for each department, making them each active participants in the design process. The new workspaces accommodate each group’s unique needs, joined by shared priorities of flexible working areas, inspiring collaboration spaces, and an environment filled with daylight.
By studying the existing campus; by gathering insights from the full ecosystem of building users and stakeholders; by facilitating the change management from the old space, to a new, modern work environment, Ankrom Moisan designed a facility that will support and inspire students and staff for many years to come.
NICE TO KNOW
Object
Bellevue College Student Success Center
Location
Bellevue, USA
Architects
Ankrom Moisan, Seattle, WA, USA
Photographer
Francis Zera, Seattle, WA, USA
Distributor
Element Architectural Products, Wilsonville, OR, USA
Building period
2017 – 2019
PDF project sheet
Facade material
Swisspearl Largo Carat Sahara 7001, 7002
Read more – Swisspearl Architecture magazine
Find more stories in our Swisspearl Architecture #29. Subscribe to our magazine to get the printed issue.
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