Clemson University's 16,000-sf Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center has become the first mass timber structure on the campus and the second mass timber facility in the nation to use Southern yellow pine as the primary building material. The project is located at the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex.
Designed to enhance the opportunities of Clemson students to achieve mental and physical wellness through interaction with nature, the Center comprises two multi-use classroom studios capable of supporting activities such as yoga, rowing, wellness seminars, nutrition, expedition planning, and other events. The facility also includes a resource for trip planning, equipment rentals, a bike repair/rental shop, a boathouse, a covered patio, a lounge, and a second-level deck overlooking Lake Hartwell.
The boathouse, which provides storage for rental kayaks, paddleboards, and rafts, is enclosed in passively ventilated skin of local cypress. The cypress skin helps to enhance the visual appeal and sustainability of the building.
The building is positioned to be net-zero ready and has the potential to be operated off-grid with the installation of photovoltaics. Sustainable elements include expansive windows that offer natural daylight, sensor-controlled lighting, and large-scale fans that help reduce cooling loads. Passive cooling is used for boat storage spaces.
See Also: Erudite eSports: Colleges build their very own eSports arenas
The Center supports student engagement with nature by anchoring a master planned precinct on campus, which includes 14,000 sf of synthetic turf fields for intramural and club sports, woodlands for hikes, beaches, and lake access for water activities. Additionally, the building's covered terrace and second-level roof deck overlook the lake and provide opportunities for people to access the exterior environment.
Related Stories
| Oct 17, 2011
Clery Act report reveals community colleges lacking integrated mass notification systems
“Detailed Analysis of U.S. College and University Annual Clery Act Reports” study now available.
| Oct 14, 2011
University of New Mexico Science & Math Learning Center attains LEED for Schools Gold
Van H. Gilbert architects enhances sustainability credentials.
| Oct 12, 2011
Bulley & Andrews celebrates 120 years of construction
The family-owned and operated general contractor attributes this significant milestone to the strong foundation built decades ago on honesty, integrity, and service in construction.
| Sep 30, 2011
Design your own floor program
Program allows users to choose from a variety of flooring and line accent colors to create unique floor designs to complement any athletic facility.
| Sep 23, 2011
Okanagan College sets sights on Living Buildings Challenge
The Living Building Challenge requires projects to meet a stringent list of qualifications, including net-zero energy and water consumption, and address critical environmental, social and economic factors.
| Sep 14, 2011
Research shows large gap in safety focus
82% of public, private and 2-year specialized colleges and universities believe they are not very effective at managing safe and secure openings or identities.
| Sep 7, 2011
KSS Architects wins AIA NJ design award
The project was one of three to win the award in the category of Architectural/Non-Residential.
| May 18, 2011
Major Trends in University Residence Halls
They’re not ‘dorms’ anymore. Today’s collegiate housing facilities are lively, state-of-the-art, and green—and a growing sector for Building Teams to explore.
| May 18, 2011
Raphael Viñoly’s serpentine-shaped building snakes up San Francisco hillside
The hillside location for the Ray and Dagmar Dolby Regeneration Medicine building at the University of California, San Francisco, presented a challenge to the Building Team of Raphael Viñoly, SmithGroup, DPR Construction, and Forell/Elsesser Engineers. The 660-foot-long serpentine-shaped building sits on a structural framework 40 to 70 feet off the ground to accommodate the hillside’s steep 60-degree slope.