American River College Natomas Center Science and Art Building

Located miles away from the main American River College campus, this lone outpost had modest beginnings. The single existing building, effectively a self-contained, miniature campus, provides classrooms, administrative offices, and a learning resource center. What this campus lacks, however, is a strong sense of community. Students currently do not have a place to be when not in class. This proved to be an excellent opportunity to create a series of spaces that foster collaboration and create a sense of belonging.

The design for the Natomas Center revolves around creating a place for community to happen. The original campus-in-a-building suffers from a lack of any space for informal learning, study space, or social gathering. Having a place for students to go when not in classes and keeping students on campus longer were considered the highest priority. By forming a communal courtyard between the original and new buildings, the college now has a place for that to happen.

The overriding goal was to make an inclusive center with the feel of a campus to welcome and encourage all students to stay on the site, providing a variety of spaces both inside and out to encourage the full range from noisy interaction through to quiet contemplation and study. The project strategically addresses neurodiversity and supports neurodivergent needs; this comes through in scale and the in-between spaces to help build community.