The new Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, Mo., is a first-of-a-kind educational asset in the region. The 125,000-sf facility will educate and train a new generation in high tech, clean manufacturing and fabrication.
Strong, metallic materials and geometric forms make up the shining facade, creating a modern, creative feel. Flexibility was a key goal of the program; thus, the Center is designed to be open, with tracks for movable walls to adjust to varying class sizes and new configurations.
The building’s core is a workshop high bay area, featuring more than 30,000 sf of active learning environments that are double- and triple-height, encased in steel and glass. This design element puts the work of students and industry partner collaboration on display.
These spaces are stocked with advanced equipment, including 3D printers, laser cutters, robotic welders, computer-aided lathes, mechatronics stations, and an overhead gantry crane.
Classrooms are arranged alongside the high bay for seamless transitions from class to lab, while the glass collaboration zones overlook a 500-foot-long high bay space that is leasable to relocating or start-up companies. This area fronts one of Springfield’s main thoroughfares.
The new facility occupies a long, skinny site, and needed to provide tractor trailer access at multiple points. This created a design challenge to fit in with the pedestrian-friendly campus.
Like stitches holding different pieces of fabric together, the places between academic spaces pull together the large, open spaces full of glass and steel with playful, warm wood details bringing warmth to quiet study spaces. The flexible design encourages and supports both short- and longer-term training opportunities with a range of learning environments, including:
- Specialized hands-on learning environments
- Customizable simulation training centers
- Long-distance learning space
- Research and development labs
- Designated process-improvement space
- Business incubation test centers
- A large high-bay environment for industry-led projects.
A large assembly stair occupies the two-story lobby, flooded with daylight and equipped for presentations to large groups from busloads of middle school students to corporate investors.
On the project team:
Owner and/or developer: Ozarks Technical Community College
Design architect: Perkins and Will
Architect of record: Dake Wells Architecture
MEP engineers: Antella Consulting Engineers (electrical engineer); Henderson Engineers (mechanical, plumbing, fire protection engineer)
Structural engineer: J&M Engineering
General contractor/construction manager: Crossland Construction
Related Stories
| Mar 20, 2013
Folding glass walls revitalize student center
Single-glazed storefronts in the student center at California’s West Valley College were replaced with aluminum-framed, thermally broken windows from NanaWall in a bronze finish that emulates the look of the original building.
| Mar 15, 2013
Singapore R&D campus takes top honor in Lab of Year competition
Singapore CREATE R&D campus takes top honor in Lab of Year competition, sponsored by R&D Magazine.
| Mar 14, 2013
25 cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings
Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago top EPA's list of the U.S. cities with the greatest number of Energy Star certified buildings in 2012.
| Mar 14, 2013
How to win more work from community colleges
The nation’s thousand-plus community college districts can be a steady source of income for your Building Team—provided you appreciate the special needs of this important sector of the higher education market.
Building Enclosure Systems | Mar 13, 2013
5 novel architectural applications for metal mesh screen systems
From folding façades to colorful LED displays, these fantastical projects show off the architectural possibilities of wire mesh and perforated metal panel technology.
| Feb 25, 2013
10 U.S. cities with the best urban forests
Charlotte, Denver, and Milwaukee are among 10 U.S. cities ranked recently by the conservation organization American Forests for having quality urban forest programs.
| Feb 17, 2013
Suffolk University’s $62 million academic building gets the go-ahead
The Boston Redevelopment Authority board yesterday unanimously approved Suffolk University’s plans to move forward with a new campus building at 20 Somerset St. that will feature general-use and science classrooms, a light-filled cafeteria/function space, and indoor and outdoor lounging areas.
| Feb 6, 2013
George W. Bush Presidential Center among award-winning roofing projects honored by Sika Sarnafil
Winners of the 2012 Contractor Project of the Year Competition were announced this week by Sika Sarnafil. The annual competition highlights excellence in roofing installation. Roofing contractors are judged based on project complexity, design uniqueness, craftsmanship, and creative problem solving.
| Feb 5, 2013
8 eye-popping wood building projects
From 100-foot roof spans to novel reclaimed wood installations, the winners of the 2013 National Wood Design Awards push the envelope in wood design.
