how the brand new ojai valley college design achieves environmental resiliency after the 2017 thomas fireplace

three new buildings for the ojai valley college in California

 

frederick fisher and companions (FF&P) has accomplished three new signature buildings on the ojai valley college (OVS) higher campus, in ojai, california. designed to exchange two older buildings that have been destructed through the 2017 thomas fireplace, the challenge embraces the panorama whereas actively presenting the sorts of resiliency practices essential to responsibly inhabit the realm.

 

in 2017, the thomas fireplace devastated the ojai space and destroyed two buildings of the OVS campus, together with quite a few science and know-how lecture rooms, in addition to a pupil dormitory. the varsity acknowledged its want to rebuild instantly, and so they had already been involved with FF&P in 2015, to debate a grasp plan specializing in future progress and extra particular matters akin to website program, massing, and architectural character. development to exchange the broken services started in june 2018, whereas the challenge has now formally opened for the autumn 2021 college 12 months. ‘the brand new design is meant to be complementary to the prevailing campus character however not mimicking it. our new design is supposed to be timeless and experience-driven,’ FF&P tells designboom in our interview (learn extra beneath!)

the three new signature buildings for the OVS campus in ojai, california

all photographs by logan corridor for ojai valley college, except acknowledged in any other case

 

specializing in the indoor/outside interplay of the OVS campus

 

displaying respect to the pre-existing campus, the brand new buildings type a village of minimal pavilions, bridging the dynamic capabilities of studying, learning, and pupil residing. the three everlasting buildings embrace the aramont science and know-how middle, the grace hobson smith home dormitory, in addition to the littlefield pupil commons advanced. the aramont science and know-how middle takes form as a versatile single-story unit that homes a sequence of lecture rooms, labs, and maker areas, via an built-in indoor/outside profile. the two-story littlefield pupil commons includes a eating corridor, library, and pupil middle, with an built-in second-story library opening in direction of the ojai valley. in the meantime, the brand new grace hobson smith home dormitory accommodates resident ladies together with college residences organized round its personal courtyard.

 

totally recognizing the significance of outside schooling to OVS’ pedagogy, the architects have put emphasis on the indoor/outside interplay of the campus. all buildings are organized round an id that highlights the scenic environment as the first lively aspect, providing quite a few moments the place the buildings’ planes and interrelated profiles acknowledge the attraction of the encircling nature. the brand new higher campus design is anticipated to attain LEED gold standing via a mixture of passive cooling programs, photoelectric energy technology, and a lithium-ion battery power storage system. moreover, the challenge has been meticulously fireproofed by introducing flat roofs with no eaves, stucco finishes, and highly effective sprinklers, all of that are in accordance with ventura county’s strict pointers for defensible landscaping. street enhancements have additionally been carried out to facilitate the entry of emergency automobiles. to search out out extra in regards to the challenge, designboom bought in contact with frederick fisher and takashige ikawa of FF&P. learn our interview in full beneath.

all buildings are organized round an id that highlights the scenic environment as the first lively aspect

 

interview with frederick fisher & companions 

 

designboom (DB): when did you start engaged on the brand new hilltop ojai valley college higher campus, and what was the preliminary transient of the challenge?

 

frederick fisher & companions (FF&P): we started work on the higher campus in 2015, beginning with a collaborative visioning train with the ojai valley college group that helped articulate the higher campus’ quick and long-term wants whereas combining their philosophical beliefs with website integration, performance, and aesthetic inspiration. the 2017 thomas fireplace destroyed the core campus, which prompted an instantaneous want to exchange the misplaced buildings on the brand new ‘clean slate’ website – 195-acres overlooking the ojai valley.

the brand new buildings are designed to spotlight the indoor/outside interplay of the OVS campus

 

DB: how does the brand new design reply to the campus’ masterplan and present mid-century structure?

 

FF&P: the brand new design is meant to be complementary to the prevailing campus character however not mimicking it. our new design is supposed to be timeless and experience-driven.

 

DB: what are the principle traits of the challenge’s general design language?

 

FF&P: whereas the design language is easy, person expertise all through the challenge is various. we meant to create various experiences using the straightforward type of containers. these containers all collectively create a way of dynamism.

 

DB: the three signature buildings include quite a lot of capabilities. how are these areas laid out as a part of the campus?

 

the three new buildings respect the prevailing campus structure whereas forming a village of minimal pavilions that join the dynamic capabilities of studying, learning, and pupil residing. every constructing has an adjoining outside area for studying and gathering. collectively, the three buildings create a plaza, communally relating each to themselves and to nature. even from throughout the buildings or their inner courtyards, views or pure airflows emphasize a direct and fixed relationship with nature.

 

DB: how does the brand new design obtain environmental resiliency whereas embracing the pure context?

 

the design embraces the scenic panorama whereas reflecting the sorts of resiliency practices essential to responsibly inhabit the realm with using passive cooling design, photoelectric energy technology, and a lithium-ion battery storage system that may dramatically cut back CO2 emissions and permit the campus to function off-grid. the positioning has been extensively fireproofed via the incorporation of flat roofs with out eaves, stucco finishes, enhanced sprinklers, and improved website entry.

 

challenge information:

 

identify: ojai valley college (OVS)
architects: frederick fisher and companions (FF&P)
panorama designer: pamela burton & firm
civil engineer: embody advisor group 

structural engineer: parker-resnick

mechanical engineer: nibecker & associates

electrical engineer: nikolakopulos & associates

foodservice designer: webb

LEED consultants: zinner consultants

common contractor: mcgillivray development
location: ojai, california, the US

myrto katsikopoulou I designboom

oct 06, 2021