Seminar II

The Evergreen State College

The design reflects The Evergreen State College’s interdisciplinary teaching philosophy and commitment to environmental advocacy. The building is comprised of five learning clusters that stretch out like fingers into the tree canopy.

Organized vertically to support identity, break down building scale and encourage interaction, the design creates an intimate learning space for year-long academic programs. Each cluster houses faculty offices, individual student homerooms, seminar rooms, a workshop, a lecture hall and a studio. The siting strategy connects to the forest while maximizing access to daylight, fresh air and views. A complex of connector spaces link the structures to each other and gracefully reach out to the campus as a whole — knitting together level changes and isolated buildings into one cohesive plan.

AIA Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE), Award of Excellence (2007) | USGBC Living Building Challenge, Demonstrated Leadership in Indoor Quality (2007) | AIA Northwest & Pacific Region, Honor Award (2006) | IIDA/Metropolis Smart Environments Award (2006) | USGBC LEED Gold Certification (2006) | Energy & Environmental Design Award, IESNA, Puget Sound Section (2006) | Edwin F. Guth Interior Lighting Design Award, IESNA, Puget Sound Section (2006) | AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Green Project Award (2005) | AIA Washington Council Civic Design, Honor Award (2005) | AIA Seattle Honor Awards for Washington Architecture, Award of Merit (2005) | CEFPI International Project of Distinction Award (2005) | Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, North America — Green Roof Award of Excellence (2005) | Environmental Design + Construction Magazine, Excellence in Design Award Finalist (2005)