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Perkins+Will designs new building to train next generation of CEOs at University of Albany
The University at Albany in Albany, New York recently unveiled the architectural design for the new 96,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art School of Business building that evokes the style of its 1960s predecessor.
Located on the campus's main entry plaza, the US $64m building seeks to be a hub of learning and innovation in commercialization and entrepreneurship for business students and professionals throughout Albany and New York State.
Designed by Perkins+Will, the building will feature technologically advanced classrooms and meeting spaces, breakout rooms for team projects, expanded space for career services, student reception areas, collaborative research centers and additional graduate assistant workspace. It will have a trading room on the first floor with Bloomberg terminals.
The Perkins+Will design draws much of its inspiration from the existing 1960s Edward Durell Stone-designed academic podium and residence halls that dominate the uptown campus. The new building preserves the modernist formality of the campus’s orthogonal aesthetics in a more modern interpretation. The building's interior will have floor-to-floor terracing for maximum circulation and natural lighting, with an exterior represented by both solid and transparent volumes. Other features include including a glass overlooking a sunken garden that will serve as a gathering space for students and faculty. Also the expansive second-floor hall will be opened up with large skylights in the ceiling.. The building also includes a large second-floor hall with skylights at its ceiling.
"Situated at the main entry to the podium, the new building will define a dynamic new front door to the campus,” said Rob Goodwin, design principal at Perkins+Will. “Through its simple, bold form and open, light-filled atrium, the design will create a distinctive identity for the School of Business that will literally reach out into the community.”
Consistent with the university's commitment to sustainability, the business school's design integrates measures from the USGBC LEED rating system to improve energy savings, water efficiency, carbon emissions reduction, and indoor environmental quality.
Construction is slated to begin this summer with completion slated for 2013
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