Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Claremont University Consortium

Administrative Campus Center

  • 07/01/14
Administrative Campus Center for the Claremont University Consortium 

PHOTOS © MICHAEL MORAN

This new Administrative Campus Center for the Claremont University Consortium (CUC) in Claremont, CA, consolidates the majority of CUC departments and services into a single location. LTL Architects designed the interior and exterior adaptive re-use of an underutilized 42,000-square-foot maintenance building to house CUC’s administrative functions. The new Administrative Campus Center is a vibrant work environment and a collective gathering place for both CUC and the broader community. The project received LEED Silver certification.

To redefine the building’s character, LTL wrapped a continuous cedar surface around the existing frame. The ribbon works with the existing sloped geometry of the building, but moves free of the existing shell to produce exterior gathering spaces. From the entrance, the cedar slips into the interior, framing a new reception area and café. The screen continues from the café out to the south patio, defining a very large multipurpose area. Where this cedar ribbon passes over windows, the spacing of the cedar panels is incrementally increased to allow light in.

The interior of the building takes advantage of the high ceiling and the large spans of the existing steel structure, providing an open office space. Expanded windows along the perimeter in combination with 168 skylights provide enough natural light to all work stations so that artificial illumination is not needed during the day, greatly reducing the building’s energy consumption.

Forming an interior cloud across the entire building, the ceiling unifies the space, and assists with sound mitigation in the open offices. Emerging from a central spine of red carpet is a wide stair, which provides bleacher-like seating for large gatherings. The stairs take advantage of the ceiling height by creating space for a new kitchenette beneath and a cactus garden above. The resulting design is an efficient yet creative environment with a collective, egalitarian atmosphere.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.

  • University of Pittsburgh to Build New Residence Hall

    The Board of Trustees from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently approved the construction of a new residence hall for first-year students, according to university news.

  • GeoCam and UCLA: Modernizing Campus Accessibility Mapping

    In early 2025, UCLA partnered with GeoCam to capture and modernize its pedestrian infrastructure data. The goal was ambitious but clear: to produce a high-accuracy, imagery-backed digital map of every sidewalk, pathway, ramp, and ADA-related feature on UCLA’s 419-acre campus.