GateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR

GateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR - FacadeGateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR - Beam, Facade, DeckGateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR - Facade, HandrailGateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR - FacadeGateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR - More Images+ 48

GateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR - Facade
© Liam Frederick

Text description provided by the architects. Since 1968, GateWay Community College has built a legacy of innovation, pioneering vision and responsiveness to the needs of its community. It was the first technical college in Arizona, first to use community advisory committees, first to tailor courses to the needs of business and industry, first to offer classes at off-campus locations, and even the first to install a computer. From a humble beginning in the former Korrick’s Department Store in downtown Phoenix, Maricopa Technical College has flourished over the past 40 years into today’s GateWay.

GateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR - Facade
© Liam Frederick

GateWay Community College is located at the geographic center of Phoenix’s “Discovery Triangle,” a zone of focus for redevelopment that connects the city’s academic and research centers. Historically a blighted and underutilized area of metro Phoenix, the Discovery Triangle has seen progress in recent years as a result of the city’s new light rail system. While the GateWay Community College campus is currently surrounded by a dog track, tire shops, low budget motels and abandoned lots, the project represents a scale of urban renewal not seen to date.

Planta 1

The Integrated Education Building significantly transforms GateWay Community College, adding literally an entire set of program elements to the center of the campus. The three-story building creates an “academic city” that contributes to a sense of community on campus, and complements the campus’ assortment of architectural languages.  As an assemblage of warehouses that have been converted into academic functions and two new buildings constructed in the past 15 years, the IEB shifts the center of gravity of campus and re-focuses academic and student life functions. A palette of masonry, glass, galvanized metal and copper complements the campus and evolves the language looking towards the future.

GateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR - Facade
© Liam Frederick

The stacking concept creates shaded terrace space on the south façade. This connects g the interior to a new campus mall, while the program cascades to the east to provide multi-level connections to the campus quad, while offering elevated outdoor study and faculty space at each floor. The Multi-Purpose Community Space is focused towards a primary light rail stop for visibility and access.

GateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR - Image 17 of 53
© Liam Frederick

A new urban mall is sculpted on the building’s southern edge. A series of outdoor spaces is created through desert landscaping, shade canopies and upper level balconies. The main lobby space is strategically sited  at the intersection of primary existing pedestrian flows.

GateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR - Facade
© Liam Frederick

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Project location

Address:Phoenix, AZ, USA

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
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Cite: "GateWay Community College / SmithGroup JJR" 31 Aug 2012. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/268232/gateway-community-college-smithgroup-jjr> ISSN 0719-8884

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