Tinkham Veale University Center / Perkins+Will

Architects: Perkins+Will
Location: Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106
Associate Architect: CBLH Architects
Project Year: 2015
Photographs: Steinkamp Photography

From the architect. Located in the center of three separately defined campus zones at Case Western Reserve University the new university center contains student gathering spaces, dining facilities, meeting rooms, and offices for student organizations. The new building features three wings that are designed to facilitate the convergence of students from all three zones and serve as a connection point to tie the entire campus together.

The site is adjacent to a large open field, which sits atop a two-story underground parking structure. Construction was prohibited on the field above the garage due to insufficient structure and high hydrostatic pressure. The two sides adjacent to the field and underground parking structure are cantilevered over the garage to avoid these structural complications and to maximize floor plate sizes.

The structure of the facility was designed as a folded plate of green roofs growing out of the site with glazed walls below that open views to the outdoors. At the intersection of the three wings is a double-height gathering space uniting the two floors of the facility. A two-story high double-glazed wall encloses this space and opens western views into the field and an art museum beyond while eliminating excessive heat loads.