The Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) is a Knowledge Community of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). We are a large and active group of over 10,000 architects and allied professionals concerned with the quality and design of all types of educational, cultural, and recreational facilities that promote lifelong learning in safe, welcoming and equitable environments. The CAE’s mission is to foster innovative and collaborative design of educational facilities and to heighten public awareness on the importance of learning environments.
2014 Committee on Architecture for Education Design Excellence Award Category: Merit Jury Comments: Clearly intended to change the role of the library within the campus community, this vibrant facility encourages learning as an individualized process. Its actively populated spaces have created a new collaborative social center as opposed to a static place of silence. The project is notable for the variety of spaces – no less than 100 enclosed study group areas among them – where students can study and work together. The beautifully detailed and varied spaces range from a technology hyped Visualization Lab to a sweeping roof terrace – all great places to be. Even the robotic book delivery system at the heart of library has been treated as a visual ‘tour de force.’ This library heralds the growing expectations for spaces of higher learning: collaborative, highly connected and compelling. As a new glowing hub in an apparently nondescript campus, this project brings new life to the University as a whole.#CAE #Jury #award #Merit #design #2014