Colby College, Roberts Union Hall

Photos

credits: Blind Dog Photo Associates, 4 Market Place Drive, Suite 204, York, ME 03909, 207.361.4042, Siri Blanchette, Photographer

Project Name

Colby College, Roberts Union Hall

PROJECT CONTEXT

  • An iconic building serving one of the oldest and most successful liberal arts Colleges in the United States.
  • This project site anchors the south quad of the 714-acre campus located along the Kennebec River Valley in Central Maine.
  • Named for the College’s fourteenth president, this 1946 structure has at one time or another served as a student union, campus bookstore, dining hall, administrative office(s), academic classroom and conference space(s).

DESIGN GOALS

  • Convert 28,500 SF of academic, administrative and meeting space into modern, state of the art student residence space that will remain attractive to a diverse global student body population.
  • Provide the college with a functional, durable and sustainable residence, allowing maximum draw flexibility and space utilization while minimizing energy consumption and long term maintenance burden.
  • Upgrade building life safety, circulation and acoustic systems to allow students to harmoniously coexist with all other building occupants.

DESIGN SOLUTION

The building is blessed with a unique arrangement of volume and space, anchored by a central core taller in stature and more ornate in detailing than either the flanking east or west wings.

This hierarchy informs plan organization by locating student activity spaces within, creating a crossroad of social interaction. The large terrazzo and ornamental iron central stair, meticulously reconstructed by local craftsman, connects all levels of this central core with the main building entrance.

Supporting this activity is the refurbished north porch, left inaccessible from previous renovations. This porch anchors the north end of the central core with views to the western Maine mountain range and beyond, providing a welcome respite from rigorous academics.

Both the third floor and roof of the East and West wings are lower in height and reduced in width, creating an organic organization of smaller space, perfectly suited to the placement of private bedroom “neighborhoods.”  A careful three dimensional study of roof lines and dormer geometry, using virtual modeling software, identified efficient and unique room and suite arrangements.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability efforts focused on energy efficiency, water conservation and comfort. Challenges included structure upgrades in support of an upgraded roof insulation system, concealing modern life safety and IT systems within a robust masonry structure, and meticulously detailing historic replacement windows. Other improvements included LED lighting, new energy management and recovery systems, locally sourced materials, and highly recycled and recyclable materials. Originally targeting LEED Silver, this project will receive LEED Gold Certification from the USGBC in 2016.

Architecture or A/E Firm Name

Lavallee Brensinger Architects, 305 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101, 207.558.7200, 155 Dow Street, Suite 400, Manchester, NH 03101, 603.622.5450, 40 Cambridge Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, 617.398.2035

Architect

John Harper, AIA, Senior Associate, Project Manager, John.Harper@LBPA.com

Team

Lavallee Brensinger Architects, Chris Drobat, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, President; Alahe G. Aldo, AIA, LEED AP, Principal; John Harper, AIA, Senior Associate; John E. Adams III, LEED AP; Christina Mellor, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP, Interior Designer

Consultants

Civil, Structural, Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing/Fire Protection Engineer: Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering, 71 Water Street, Laconia, NH 03246, 603.524.4647, Theodore Lempka, PE, Project Manager; Acoustical Engineer: Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, 327F Boston Post Road, Sudbury, MA 01776, 978.443.7871, Lincoln B. Berry, Project Manager, Building Envelope Engineer: Building Envelope Specialists, 159 Front Street, South Portland, ME 04106, 207.400.0086, Scott R. Whitaker, President and CEO

Location

Colby College, Roberts Union Hall, 4000 Mayflower Drive, Waterville, ME 04901

Client

Colby College, Roberts Union Hall, 4000 Mayflower Drive, Waterville, ME 04901

General Contractor

PC Construction, 131 Presumpscot Street, Portland, ME 04103, 207.874.2323, Dan Noblet, Project Manager