spaces to allow for more intimate student
academic interaction. These renovations
respect and celebrate the building's origins
and context, while creating a modern space
on a conservative budget.
The Humanities Building, an AIA award
winning design by CRS, was renovated by LPA
Inc. as part of an overall improvement program
to bring Cypress College's 1970s campus into
the 21st century.
The three-story, 80,900-square-foot building
challenged the design team to consider how
to transform an outdated structure into one
that provides students with state-of-the-art
technologies and education. In addition,
the Humanities Building is significant to
the campus, as it houses the two largest
instructional divisions at Cypress College,
making this the most heavily used building on
campus by students and faculty.
The design team focused on providing
flexibility, efficiency and technology for the
students, faculty and staff that frequent this
busy building. Modular furniture wall systems
and sliding doors were implemented to
provide ultimate space efficiency for the faculty
and staff offices.
An important aspect to the college culture
was to provide both social and study space.
Social spaces developed naturally in the areas
adjacent to daylight and major points of the
building's entrance and circulation, while study
spaces were provided just off the main social
Scope.
Cypress College Humanities Renovation
Sustainable Features:
· Remodelall"closed"stairwellswithmetalgrateand
frosted structural glass for natural light penetration
· Newcorridorwallshaveclerestoryglazingencouraging
natural light from major openings on the south façade.
· Occupiedspacesareequippedwithlightingand
occupancy controls
· Comprehensiveuseofthechannelglazingsystemis
maximizedtocontrolsolargainastheexistingstairwell
orientations vary.
· Thenewstairdesigncreates"lanterns"atnightthereby
reducing exterior lighting requirements.
· Renovationofrestroomswithnewlow-flowfixtures
reducespotablewateruseby40%vs.existing
· ReplacementoftheoriginalHVACsystemyieldsan
energy savings of 20% and improves ventilation, indoor
air quality and overall occupant comfort.
· RenovatedcampuslandscapedesignusesCalifornia
friendly planting material and a new smart irrigation
system reducing irrigation requirements by 50%
· Requiringlow/zeromaintenance,80%ofmaterials
used are rapidly renewable or contain recycled content.
· UseoflowVOCmaterialsthroughoutandIAQmeasures
used during construction.
· Modularfurnituresystemwallsanddoorswereutilized
providing ultimate efficiency, future flexibility and
reusability--reducing waste.