Atwood Hall Student Center



Project Location
Second Floor Atwood Hall



Alaska Pacific University (APU) seeks to renovate approximately 1,900 square feet of existing cafeteria space into a student lounge and eating area on the second floor of the Atwood Center.  



The purpose of this blog is to supplement a stakeholder meeting to be held on Friday, April 22^th at noon at Atwood Center to gather stakeholder input for project concepts, as well as provide students with a mechanism to vote for their preferred design option.  Once a project concept option is selected the design team will work to refine the concept so that it meets the project budget.

The project consists primarily of lowering ceilings, installing staging and floor risers, hall wall installation, construction of a gas fueled fire place and hearth, construction of booth seating, and providing interior finishes designed to create a warmer, more rustic, and student oriented space conducive to student social life and out of classroom academic endeavors.  As much as is possible, environmentally sustainable design work is favored.  Wood or finished wood products are favored in many cases. 

RIM Architects is providing pro-bono services to APU student, faculty and trustee stakeholders to develop concept plans to meet the project budget.  Using information gathered from initial discussions with APU representatives, as well as a report authored by the student government, RIM has developed two preliminary floor plan layouts and renderings for the project. 

 

Both concept design options separate the student lounge and activity center from the other areas of the building with a glass partition and doors. Each concept also create three distinct usage areas within the overall project area; The Stage, The Dining area, and the Den.  The following renderings are not project solutions, but rather intended to give stakeholders and students an idea of the space.



glass partition view 1

glass partition view 2

The Stage
The Stage area features a raised stage and a defined ceiling. Wood finishes and accommodations for technology, projection equipment, public address and audio equipment will be accommodated.

The Dining Area

The Dining area includes flexible seating. The tables and chairs will be chosen from a palette that reflects the “Modern Cabin” aesthetic that the student body previously identified. Based on feedback from future working sessions the options could include fixed booth seating as well, though booth seating could limit the flexibility of the space overall.

The Den
The Den area includes a raised floor area with a gas fire place and dramatic stone hearth. Lounge type seating, a partial height wall and defined ceiling plane will differentiate this space from the larger space overall.

The Den

The Dining Area and the Stage

Together the entire space can function as one for large gatherings or separately for smaller groups. Both proposed options offer focal points at either end of a narrow space, helping to provide balance and cohesion.

Plan Option 1

Option 1 Plan

Option 1 locates the Stage Area at the South end of the space. This allows the primary focus from outside the space to the stage. This stage location will help draw attention to the space from other areas of the building.  Option 1 places the Den at the North end of the space. This location gives more seclusion and privacy to the Den.



Plan Option 2



Option 2 Plan



Option 2 is the counterpoint to Option 1. Option 2 locates the Stage Area at the North end of the space. This allows the Stage to serve as a secondary function to the larger space. Having the Den located at the south again gives viewers outside the space the opportunity to be drawn to the space but for different reasons.









Please use the voting mechanism provided in the upper left hand corner of this post to cast a vote for your preferred design option.