2014 Committee on Architecture for Education Design Excellence Award Category: Merit Description: The new interdisciplinary Newport Beach Campus, located on Monrovia Avenue in the city of Newport Beach, Calif., provides a total of approximately 66,800 square feet to Coastline Community College, as well as hardscape and landscape. The project also includes construction of a 260-space, on-site, parking lot directly adjacent to the structure. Key sustainable features, such as storm water management, natural ventilation, green roofs, living walls, maximized daylight and views of the ocean, are highlighted to achieve LEED Gold rating. The project exceeds CA Title 24 energy code by 33%. Jury Comments: In a single gesture, this learning center establishes an entire community college campus. A clearly articulated, linear schema mediates between a national preserve bordering the ocean and an industrial area beyond. The building section is inflected to bring light deep into a linear atrium that is naturally ventilated to take full advantage of the benign coastal climate. A breathing, sloping glass façade dematerializes the connection from the interior spaces to garden terraces looking out over the nature preserve. The multi-level interior atrium acts as the social hub and mediates between classrooms, gardens and adjacent parking to create a cohesive experience. The simple, bold form of the extruded section is elegantly articulated through the carefully edited material palette of glass, perforated metal, concrete and wood.#award #design #Merit #CAE #2014 #Jury