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| Web for faculty | Provost Site |Academic Building Plans -- General Narrative Description
Narrative provided by Dick Roberts, June
23, 2005
Center for Science, Education and
Technology
The
administration engaged in a study to ascertain the need for additional
academic
space in light of enrollment trends, projected increase in faculty
lines and
plans to expand services and programs.
In conjunction with a nationally-recognized consulting firm that
specializes in space analysis, the collegeÔø‡s Offices of the Provost,
Institutional Research and Registrar compiled data on classroom
scheduling
(hours scheduled vs. hours available) and intensity of use (seats
filled vs.
seats available). A comparison of RamapoÔø‡s data with normative
statistics
indicated that a new facility was warranted. The Board of Trustees
authorized
the administration to initiate the design of a new, approximate 86,000
GSF
facility to meet current and projected classroom and other
academically-related
space needs.
The
collegeÔø‡s Facilities Master Plan reflected a site for a new academic
building
adjacent to G-Building. A committee comprised of faculty and staff has
met with
the projectÔø‡s architects to develop further the new Ôø‡Center for
Science,
Education and Technology.Ôø‡ The program includes a dramatic three-story
atrium,
twelve classrooms, two tiered amphitheaters, 74 full-time and adjunct
faculty
offices, an email lounge, a student lounge, assembly areas, computer
science
labs, nursing labs, a bioinformatics lab, Master of Science in
Education
Technology Suite, an International Studies Suite, basement
storage, rooftop observatory and a separate
on-grade greenhouse. Ramapo College has requested that the new building
incorporate sustainable materials and Ôø‡green designÔø‡ where economically
feasible.
Following
the intent of the Master Plan, the new facility sits adjacent to the
north end
of the existing G-Building. The
building is accessible from G-Wing on four floors and provides dramatic
entry
points from the surrounding residence halls and parking facilities. With the use of paving stones, ramps,
retaining walls, landscaping, particular attention was given to
improving the
collegeÔø‡s strong pedestrian axis pathways.
Although
the intricate glass, steel, and masonry structure will be a unique and
fresh
addition to the college, all of the materials have a relationship to
the
existing buildings on campus. The
large masses which contain the stairs, elevators, and toilet facilities
anchor
the ends of the east facade with iron-spotted brick respecting the
materials of
the adjacent G-Wing. The large
expanses of glass on the north, east, and west facades relate to the
materials
of the main academic "el." The
exterior slate cladding from the academic Ôø‡elÔø‡ now slices into the
hillside to
provide an outdoor plaza, an extension of the second floor student
lounge. Large vertical aluminum sunscreens
along the west facade will help control heat gain from the westerly sun.
Keeping
with the linear layout of the academic core, the new building is a
simple
double-loaded corridor with classrooms on the west side offering
dramatic views
of the Ramapo mountains and faculty offices on the east.
A
revised cost estimate at the completion of the design development phase
reflected the need to augment the $24.0 million project budget by $3.9
million.
The Board approved this increase at its April 20, 2005 meeting.
SNS
Architects and Engineers, along with their consultants and Cambridge
Construction Management, are working on the construction document
phase. The
college expects the project to be completed during the spring of 2007
and ready
for occupancy for the fall semester of 2007.