The new 7,500-square-foot (697-m2) Math and Science addition to the West Valley-Mission Community College in Saratoga, Calif., has high public visibility on the north edge of campus, due to its location on a narrow landscaped strip between the existing Math Science building and large parking lot. The building’s design responded by articulating the north architectural façade and preserving several large specimen trees, such as oaks and redwoods, in front, both to visually soften the edge. On the south side, the façade was minimally composed and set close and parallel to the existing building, forming an efficient service corridor to access the prep rooms.
Contrasting exterior materials were selected based upon orientation and adjacencies. Concrete tile shingle wall siding, non-fenestrated, matches that of the adjacent math and science building to the south, while the 4,500 square feet (418 m2) of aluminum cladding panels, and the 2,500 square feet (232 m2) of glazed curtainwall, appropriately imbues prominence to the north façade. The building’s daylighting design, a continuous band of windows and slotting in the roofing overhang, has enabled all labs to consume less energy and need virtually no artificial lighting. Windows are located between the tops of cabinets and ceilings, providing an undistracted view out to the sky and trees.
Alcoa Architectural Products, Eastman, Ga., supplied 0.16-inch
(4-mm) Reynobond composite panels in a prefinished aluminum, anodic clear Colorweld 300XL coating and installed in a rout and return system with shop-applied clips. Alcoa also supplied its 0.004-inch
(0.1-mm) Reynolux Colorweld 300XL prefinished aluminum sheet metal flashing and trim in Anodic Clear. Oldcastle Glass Vistawall, Santa Monica, Calif., supplied its Reliance 2 1/2- by 6-inch (64- by 152-mm) curtainwall system, in addition to 500 Series wide stile with 1-inch (25-mm) glazing. Los Angeles-based Ceilings Plus supplied its Illusions 304 stainless-steel brushed #4 metal ceiling panels for the project. The glazing is Azuria tinted glass 1/4-inch
(6-mm) with 1/2-inch (13-mm) space and 1/4-inch clear glass from Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries. AMBICO Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, supplied its stainless-steel doors and frame, 316 SS small diamond texture.
Kruger Bensen Ziemer Architects Inc., Santa Barbara, Calif., was the architect; Swenson & Associates, Campbell, Calif., was the general contractor; and Swinerton Management & Consulting Inc., Saratoga, was the construction manager. Alumawall Inc., San Jose, Calif., was the installer of the Reynobond panels, and McCumber’s Glass, Marysville, Calif., was the installer of the curtainwall, storefront and glazing. T3 Inc., Fremont, Calif., installed the exterior metal ceiling; Trimtech, San Jose, Calif., installed the stainless-steel exterior doors; and Omni Sheet Metal Inc., San Jose, installed the sheet metal flashing and trim.
Alcoa Architectural Products, www.alcoaarchitecturalproducts.com
AMBICO Ltd., www.ambico.com
Ceilings Plus, www.ceilingsplus.com
Oldcastle Glass Vistawall, www.vistawall.com
PPG Industries, www.ppg.com
