Arts & Technology Building – Columbia State Community College Williamson Campus

Project Statement

The Arts & Technology Building at Columbia State Community College’s Williamson County Campus is the fourth facility in the campus’s ten-building masterplan. Serving as home to the IT Center for Excellence, the Arts program, a multiuse performance venue, flexible instructional spaces, an innovation lab, and a maker space, the building continues the college’s ethos of fostering engagement, creativity, and collaboration across disciplines.

The building’s rectangular gabled roof form extends the campus by bridging an east–west grade change, then splits at its center to create two distinct entries: a prominent campus quadrangle entrance for students and a lower-level community entry into a central lobby. A distinct limestone- and composite metal–clad performance venue anchors the public face of the facility, offering convenient access for lectures, performances, and community events. This venue includes a prefunction lobby, exterior gathering plaza, and event lawn that support pre- and post-performance activities.

Student-focused collaboration spaces flank the quadrangle entry, while the Innovation Laboratory—positioned above as a glass-fronted beacon—overlooks the heart of campus, symbolizing discovery and technology. Classrooms, faculty offices, outdoor terraces, and the landscaped quadrangle further enrich opportunities for connection and exchange. Accessible pedestrian walkways link perimeter parking to the central quad, reinforcing inclusivity and social interaction.

Architecturally, the building respects and extends the campus’s streamlined collegiate gothic style through modeled brick veneer, limestone detailing, and rhythmic glazing framed by architectural composite panels. Natural light and transparency highlight the forward-looking technologies within while rooting the design in tradition and permanence. Sustainability is integral to the facility, most notably through a fully geothermal mechanical system that provides long-term energy efficiency and resilience.

Guided by the College President’s vision of a true collegiate community, the Arts & Technology Building continues the established new benchmark for the community college experience. Through its architecture, it unites arts, technology, and innovation, elevates the campus environment, strengthens student-faculty connections, and extends a welcoming presence to the broader community.

Framework for Design Excellence Narrative

# **Design for ENERGY**

The building’s form, orientation, and transparent façades maximize natural daylight and support passive heating, cooling, and ventilation, reducing reliance on artificial systems. A fully geothermal mechanical system provides renewable energy, minimizes fossil fuel dependence, and exceeds code efficiency standards. Integrated building management systems allow continuous monitoring and performance optimization, ensuring long-term energy resilience and adaptability to future technologies.

# **Design for RESOURCES**

Durable, low-maintenance materials—modeled brick veneer, limestone detailing, and composite panels—balance longevity, aesthetic value, and environmental impact. Non-toxic finishes, local sourcing, and equitable supply chain practices reduce embodied carbon and support sustainable labor. Modular construction and adaptable spaces promote zero waste, while high-quality materials ensure the facility’s durability for decades.

# **Design for INTEGRATION**

The project unites arts, technology, and innovation, creating a collaborative collegiate community. Transparent façades, landscaped quadrangles, and terraces engage the senses and connect people to place. Integrated program elements, including the Innovation Laboratory and performance venue, deliver social, economic, and environmental benefits simultaneously. Harmonizing contemporary materials with the campus’s collegiate gothic style, the building establishes a functional, visually compelling facility that the community will value and preserve.