Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Northern Arizona University: Student and Academic Services

  • 03/01/18
Northern Arizona University

PHOTOS © KYLE ZIRKUS PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF DWL ARCHITECTS

Situated within the largest stand of Ponderosa pine forest in the world, Northern Arizona University’s Student and Academic Services (SAS) building in Flagstaff is a 94,444-square-foot, four-story, LEED Gold accredited building designed by DWL Architects + Planners.

Centrally located, the site is adjacent to public transportation and all campus amenities. The facility houses a medley of academic and administrative programs which include a one-stop shop for current and perspective student services, Undergraduate Admissions, Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid, and Student Accounts, among others. It is also home to the Lumberjack Mathematics Center (LMC), a program that combines in-class and multimodal laboratory instruction facilitated by a 250 work-station lab. The LMC features reconfigurable classrooms equipped with the latest multimedia and social media interfaces and a testing center.

In addition, the SAS building houses conference rooms, independent study areas, department and faculty offices, and numerous private and semi-private spaces for self-study or collaborative sessions.

The facility’s development and resulting design emphasize a three-tier functional and circulation hierarchy that promotes the logical and efficient organization of the spatial requirements inherent in such a diverse program. The architectural character of the SAS building celebrates the unique attributes of its surrounding natural and institutional environments. Specifically, the building’s exterior draws its inspiration from the biologic forms of northern Arizona’s ponderosa pine forest and the contextual character of the existing campus architecture. Internal spaces employ distinctive volumes, natural forms, inductive circulation, and local colors to foster a sense of place unique within the academic environment in which it is located.

The furnishings were carefully chosen for their abilities to facilitate student-centric services and to encourage a diverse range of opportunities for personalized learning. The design was carefully executed to fulfill one or more of the project’s established program goals for its functional, aesthetic, and sustainable properties.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management March 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.

  • St. John Fisher University

    Classroom Revitalization – Basil Hall Room 216

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. St. John Fisher University's Basil Hall Room 216 Classroom Revitalization has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of Spaces.

  • KWK Architects Announces Full Transition to Lawrence Group Branding

    KWK Architects recently announced that it will complete its transition to the Lawrence Group brand effective July 1, according to a news release. The merger marks the end of a three-year strategic integration process that began in March 2023 to unite the firms.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.