Project Data:

Completion Date:     3/31/2022

Square Footage:      33756

Building Use:           Student Center

Project Description:

Located at the intersection of academics and student activities, the Olander Center for Student Life strengthens the school’s collaborative mission through INTEGRATION while respecting the fabric of its celebrated landscape. The addition creates a new front face to the existing A.E. Finley Activity Center, which supports school sporting events and physical education programming, and provides direct connections to outdoor spaces at the heart of campus life.

One of the campus' most sacred spaces is the Rose Arbor – an iconic, memorable pedestrian corridor vaulted in rose bushes that connects the campus clock tower to the football stadium while supporting the ECOSYSTEM. The path hosts graduation processions and other important milestone events. The new student life center steps back from the arbor and opens its arms to this important corridor, creating an outdoor living room in which to terminate this important campus axis.

The west-facing facade subtly responds to the flow of natural pedestrian movement and emphasizes transparency to welcome students and visitors, as well as provide unobstructed views from the communal interior spaces to many of the campus’s sacred nearby buildings and outdoor spaces.

Open collaboration zones and visual connections encourage student, faculty, and parent/guardian interaction, reinforcing the school’s foundational values rooted in diversity, inclusion, belonging, and an equitable community. To reinforce the building's role as a space for all students, study spaces are positioned throughout to offer orchestrated views back to the upper and middle schools, as well as the bucolic canopied landscape.

Providing a wide variety of study and social spaces was a key goal for the client, as the campus was starved for these types of spaces elsewhere on campus. Though centered around the dining hall anchor, the design team imbued circulation spaces with the width and detail to accommodate several types of study and collaboration environments.

The double-height dining and social space provides the school with a new home for students and faculty to gather, eat, relax, and host school-wide events. A variety of seating options, integrated learning spaces, and visual connections to the level above activate the building at all times, both day and night. Ancillary student lounge and study spaces occupy half-levels, providing additional indoor-outdoor connections to the steeply sloped landscape.

A highly articulated west facade allows controlled natural light to fill the dining space while minimizing glare and providing visual connectivity to the landscape of the surrounding campus. The immense daylighting along with views and connections to the outdoors increase occupant’s health and WELL-BEING on a daily basis.

A detailed solar and ENERGY analysis informed the design of the west-facing facade and roof projection, which creates both a visual rhythm and afternoon sun protection for the study and dining spaces inside.

“The kids have really made the building their own. Even after the first week it was as if this space had always been part of the school,” said Phill Higginson, Associate head of School for Philanthropy.

Design for Integration, Design for Equitable Communities, Design for Ecosystems, Design for Water , Design for Economy, Design for Energy, Design for Well-being, Design for Resources, Design for Change, Design for Discovery 

Design for Integration:
The Olander Center embodies a decade-long vision, seamlessly integrating contemporary functionality with the campus's cherished heritage. Positioned at the crossroads of academics and student life, the facility bridges indoor and outdoor spaces. The design embraces the campus's sacred Rose Arbor, creating an inviting outdoor hub that aligns with this iconic pathway. The transparent west-facing facade fosters connections campus-wide.

Design for Equitable Communities:
Open collaboration zones promote student, faculty, and parent interaction, fostering a diverse, inclusive environment. Meticulous planning ensures a variety of study and social spaces, rectifying the scarcity of such areas elsewhere on campus. This resource-rich design enhances accessibility for all.

Design for Ecosystems:
The landscape design preserves the cherished Rose Arbor and its surrounding ecosystem. By embracing the arboreal corridor, the center creates an inviting outdoor gathering space while respecting the habitat of local flora. Visual connections promote a sense of coexistence, allowing occupants to appreciate and engage with nature. Thoughtfully planned solar and energy strategies reduce the building's ecological footprint.

Design for Water:
The landscape design preserves the cherished Rose Arbor and its surrounding ecosystem. By embracing the arboreal corridor, the center creates an inviting outdoor gathering space while respecting the habitat of local flora. Visual connections promote a sense of coexistence, allowing occupants to appreciate and engage with nature. Thoughtfully planned solar and energy strategies reduce the building's ecological footprint.

Design for Economy:
The center's open collaboration zones and state-of-the-art facilities contribute to the school's reputation, increasing enrollment and revenue. Additionally, the project's local sourcing of materials and engagement of skilled labor supports the regional economy. Sustainable features reduce long-term operational costs, enabling the school to allocate resources more efficiently.

Design for Energy:
The architecture harnesses controlled natural light, maximizing daylighting to reduce the need for artificial lighting while ensuring occupant comfort. Solar and energy analyses informed the west-facing facade and roof projection, minimizing solar heat gain and optimizing temperature control. This strategic design not only reduces energy consumption but also creates a pleasant indoor environment. Ultimately, the Center showcases how conscientious design can harmonize functionality, aesthetics, and energy efficiency to create a high-performance building that benefits both users and the environment.

Design for Wellbeing:
Abundant daylight, facilitated by the transparent facade and strategic layout, promotes a connection to the outdoors and enhances circadian rhythms, positively impacting physical and mental health. Open collaboration zones encourage interaction, fostering a sense of community and belonging. The incorporation of diverse study and social spaces accommodates various learning and working preferences, promoting comfort and productivity. Integration with the surrounding ecosystem and access to outdoor areas invite physical activity and relaxation, bolstering mental and emotional well-being.

Design for Resources:
The Olander Center prioritizes sustainable, local materials to minimize environmental impact and embodied carbon. Material selections focus on durability, safety, and healthy environments, supporting equitable labor practices. Solar and energy strategies reduce operational costs, promoting a circular economy. This project celebrates local craftsmanship and ensures a sustainable, resource-efficient lifecycle, enhancing building performance while minimizing negative impacts on the planet.

Design for Change:
The flexible layout accommodates evolving needs, allowing spaces to be reconfigured as requirements change, maximizing long-term usability. Thoughtful integration of resilient materials and systems safeguards against future challenges, ensuring the center's enduring functionality. The project's dynamic spaces can easily adapt to new technologies and teaching methods, enhancing educational value over time. This forward-thinking approach to design creates a space that not only serves its current purpose but also readily embraces the opportunities and challenges of the future, reinforcing the center's status as an enduring asset for both the school and the community.

Design for Discovery:
The Olander Center for Student Life at Ravenscroft exemplifies collaborative design and continuous learning. Engaging students, faculty, and community members, the project fosters long-term relationships and adapts to evolving needs. Transparent facades and dynamic spaces promote discovery and delight. Lessons learned are shared within the design community, and post-occupancy evaluations ensure ongoing optimization. This approach creates a responsive, adaptable environment that benefits current and future users.

Completion Date:     3/31/2022

Square Footage:      33756

Building Use:           Student Center

Location:                 Raleigh, NC

Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Inc.

Ravenscroft School

Brasfield & Gorrie

Withers & Ravenel (Civil Engineer)

Mark Herboth