Michigan student center models inclusive design based on ‘C3’ spaces
by arslan_ahmed | February 29, 2024 4:32 pm
CannonDesign recently completed the Western Michigan University (WMU) Student Center project in Kalamazoo, Mich., with a broad design based on the concept of “C3” spaces—collide, collaborate, and conspire.
Located on ancestral lands of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodewadmi nations, the WMU Student Center stands as a tribute to Native American heritage woven into the site. Replacing the Bernhard Center, this three-level space, spanning 15,143 m2 (163,000 sf), is inspired by student input, with the building’s layout revolving around C3 spaces.
The fluid floorplan aims to encourage spontaneous student interactions. The incorporation of Native American culture, such as circular rooms inspired by sitting circles, reflects student feedback on design choices. Rather than the straight walls and rectangular spaces that are customary in traditional architecture, the building features mostly curved walls and circular rooms.
Nature serves as another conceptual cornerstone for the design, with the building celebrating local elements such as the region’s bedrock, Coldwater Shale. The ground floor is clad in a stone resembling Coldwater Shale. The middle level, wrapped in glass and featuring exposed columns, simulates a Michigan forest experience. Gold fins on the upper level provide sun protection, casting tree canopy shadows onto the interior, creating a connection with nature.
The central atrium, known as the “Heart,” symbolizes Michigan forests—which contain lots of cedar trees—with wood-lined walls and skylights above. This space hosts affinity groups, offering sitting areas, performance spaces, and flexible layouts, basking in natural light from the roof to the ground floor.
Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/michigan-student-center-models-inclusive-design-based-on-c3-spaces/