The Community College Facility Coalition recognized the firm’s design of the Life Sciences and Fine Arts Building at American River College
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— September 16, 2015 — HGA Architects and Engineers (HGA) was honored yesterday at the 22nd annual Community College Facility Coalition’s (CCFC) conference for the 2015 Professional Design Award for the firm’s work with American River College’s Life Sciences and Fine Arts building. Located in the Los Rios Community College District in Sacramento, California, the project was selected for the “Award of Excellence” one of the two awards given for new construction. The awards program is for community college districts statewide.
“Exchanges in information, in knowledge, in thought and in ideas are necessary to the learning process, but creating an environment that inspires passions to flourish is essential,” said Creed Kampa, AIA, HGA’s project designer who was on hand to accept the award. “Our main goal was to bring together the Life Sciences and Fine Arts departments to coexist in one building, while also creating a high-performing, sustainable space for an environment that would spark collaborative learning. We’re honored to have received this award for our work in enhancing the learning environment for current and future students of American River College.”
Through a collaborative process that involved administrators, faculty, staff, students and facilities representatives, a concept emerged that sought foremost to enhance learning by providing an environment that promotes interaction and interdisciplinary collaboration. Completed in 2013, the 12,300-square-foot, $5.4 million project is positioned at a campus-entry point, creating a gateway to the campus that enhances learning by providing a holistic environment bringing together the Science Departments with the Art Departments of Interior Design, Fashion, Art, and Performing Arts into one integrated learning environment.
From its inception, this project was seen as an opportunity to bring together the Life Sciences and the Fine Arts. The program includes seven classrooms, five offices and the necessary building support spaces, which are organized according to their needs. Through the creative layout of the spaces, the quality of light, and the active geometries, this building provides a setting for memorable and meaningful exchanges and creative problem-solving to occur.
HGA’s design team comprised project designer Creed Kampa, AIA, project architect Angela Falla, AIA and John Justus, principal. Consultants on the project included Capital Engineering Consultants, Inc., mechanical engineering; The Engineering Enterprise, electrical engineering; Sierra Design Group, landscape architect; and Wood Rodgers, civil engineering.
About HGA
HGA is an integrated architecture, engineering and planning firm. With offices in San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento and Los Angeles; Minneapolis and Rochester, Minnesota; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Washington DC, the nationally recognized firm has developed expertise in the corporate, healthcare, government, arts, community and education, since 1953. HGA’s culture for interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge sharing and design investigation helps prepare its clients for the future with responsive, innovative and sustainable design. Visit www.HGA.com or follow the firm on Facebook or Twitter.
