The Learning Commons & Classroom Building (Building F) serves as the heart of Wake Tech’s rapidly expanding Scott Northern Wake Campus. Geographically, the centrally-located building links together the various parts of campus with pathways, bridges, and outdoor gathering spaces, while programmatically the high-tech facility provides much-needed spaces for study, student support, and social interaction.
The focal point of Building F is the new learning commons, replacing the library that had been located in Building B. The variety of spaces created within the learning commons help each student maximize their learning experience by catering to their individual needs: from lively group discussions in a social atmosphere to quiet, focused individual study. The main reading room on the lowest level of the learning commons is considered the living room for the campus. Comfortable lounge seating with integrated technology, extensive views out to the natural landscape of the Neuse Rive buffer, and ample daylight provided by three “light cannons” in the roof above all promote lively student interaction and collaboration.
At 89,000 square feet, this academic building houses classrooms and faculty offices in addition to the learning commons. The ‘L’ shaped plan configured enables the two wings to operate independently and provides controlled access and egress to the learning commons from a single location. A coffee shop with outdoor terrace seating provides another opportunity for study and interaction.
A separate, three story wing houses classrooms and academic offices, connected to the learning commons by a glass enclosed lobby/lounge space. The second and third levels of this wing are interconnected at the lobby/lounge space, creating a double-height entrance area. The facility is LEED Silver certified, reflecting Wake Tech’s commitment to sustainability. WTCC’s Scott Northern Wake Campus is the first all-LEED multi-building community college campus in the nation.
Awards
Sir Walter Raleigh Award, 2019
ASID Virginia & IIDA VA/WVA Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) Honorable Mention, 2019
