Waubonsee Community College creates a multi-building campus experience in a single building

In recent years, institutions of higher learning have been investing in new facilities and updating campuses across the country. Because schools want to save money, these new buildings rarely serve just one function. Students often study, relax, socialize and network in the same building.

A case in point is Waubonsee Community College’s satellite campus in Plano, Ill. There, the school opened a 33,000-sq-ft building that contains classrooms, a study area, support space and laboratories, as well as admissions, testing and assessment services. Several design strategies have made this award-winning project a success.

The design uses strategically located windows and expansive glass curtain walls to offer views of Lake Plano and the surrounding areas, creating a connection to the outdoors.

“The lantern-like lobby is placed at the hinge between the administration wing and classroom areas, and serves as an indoor/outdoor terrace for students, creating a visual connection between the internal program and its surrounding landscape,” said DCD Construction magazine.

The new building is designed to create an experience that is consistent with that of the school’s main campus. The exterior design scheme incorporates the school’s colors and clean, modern elements: Centria’s Formawall Dimension Series insulated metal wall system and Profile Series exposed fastener metal panels were installed, with Valspar's Fluropon coatings in Regal White and Metallic Brick II.

Fluropon coating is a premium fluoropolymer system containing a 70% polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin system for long-lasting durability, tremendous UV protection and extreme chalk and fade resistance—proven and architecturally worthy of creating lasting impressions.