Student Union Building Expansion & Refurbishment
State University of New York, New Paltz, New York State, USA
2007-10
ikon.5 architects



PROGRAM
The Student Union Building expansion at the State University of New York- New Paltz is a crystalline palisade set upon the plinth of an existing concrete building. The expressive form of the addition is influenced by the strong regional landscape of the Hudson River Valley where it is sited. Similar to painters a century before, who created evocative landscapes of the River Valley, this expansion is a sculptural interpretation of the land created to invoke inquiry and discovery- a student’s journey through the university.



Program Elements

Lower Level
• Entertainment Commons
• Conference/Meeting rooms (60p)
• Enhanced Bookstore storefront
• Relocated Student ID office

1st Floor Level
• Community Commons
• Information/Reception
• Renovated café
• Exterior campus board
• Interior message board
• Bike Racks

2nd Floor Level
• Scholar’s Perch Lounge
• Pre-function/Reception
• New Ballroom entry
• Group Study rooms
• Rest rooms
• Relocated Special student services
• Relocated College Activity offices



Elements of Green Design
The Student Union Building Expansion at the University of New York - New Paltz is a sustainable high performance building that is designed to reduce energy consumption and provide a healthy and enlightened interior environment.
The project employs a number of green design elements that make the building sustainable and reinforce the design themes. Some of the green elements are:

• Utilized a glass enclosure to harvest daylight and reduce solar gain
• Reduce lighting requirements by optic controls
• Recover heat in the upper portion of the building volume
• Utilize radiant heating and cooling to temper the people strata of the space
• Low water plumbing fixtures
• Install natural and recyclable materials; such as New York Blue stone, walnut, etc.
• Utilize materials with low VOC to improve interior air quality





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