Design Principles
The development of the new Talley Student Center site and structure will adhere to the guiding principles and design guidelines set forth in the physical master plan, A Campus of Neighborhoods and Paths.
Design Harmony: Create strong visual unity from the blending of the old and the new.
The new building will draw upon the context of the surrounding architecture, scale, materials and landscape to enhance neighborhood unity, especially the historic Reynolds Coliseum and the exterior space between the two buildings. The southern façade of Talley will blend with and complement the surrounding Cates Avenue neighborhood, in character and massing, but the northern façade will take on its unique architectural characteristics as it provides a backdrop to green space and the Free Expression tunnel and adjacent Wolf Plaza.
Pedestrian Crossroads: Make Talley a true hub of pedestrian circulation.
While the current Talley is in the center of pedestrian circulation, the current building and the area surrounding it actually impedes it. The new Talley design will create an effective hub for pedestrian circulation, bringing the campus community in at multiple points and bringing them through the center to and back out in many different directions, similar to the spokes of a wheel.
- Talley’s southern edge will continue to open to Cates Avenue.
- Pedestrian paths from the academic core on north campus will cross through Talley and connect to Cates Avenue, thus creating the crossroads within the center of the building.
- A new pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks will connect the third floor of Talley. This connection will provide an accessible link between north campus and Cates Avenue on central campus.
Campus Hearths: Create campus gathering areas and social centers.
- The new building configuration will create a courtyard, or exterior hearth, that is a natural gathering space. The green space allows for large and small gatherings.
- Dining venues located adjacent to the exterior hearth will provide outdoor dining. The courtyard will complement the new Wolf Plaza just south of the Free Expression Tunnel.
Service Areas: Facades that minimize visual impact and pedestrian/vehicular conflict.
- This building, like most campus buildings, does not have a “back” or “rear.” Most facades will contain public entrances with service yards, loading docks and utilities placed away from pedestrian and traffic flow.
- Multiple service points around the Talley site will be consolidated. The service yard/loading dock at the south-east corner of the site, in the prominent view shed from Morrill Drive, will be relocated or downsized as much as possible.
Entrances: Building entrances that are prominent features in the transitional zone between the inside and outside. Major entrances that have protective covering and significant identifying architectural features that make them easily identifiable.
- Talley will have major entrances on both the north and south sides of the building and may have other secondary entrances.
- Easy access and connectivity to Reynolds Coliseum will be a design consideration.
Sustainability: The Talley Student Center will be the model of environmental, social and economic sustainability and will have a positive impact on the campus and surrounding community.
Other Considerations:
- Memorable building elements assist in wayfinding. Design consideration will be given to building element/landmark visible from multiple views. The building design will respond to important views from north campus at the pedestrian bridge, from Dunn Avenue, and Morrill Drive.
- An atrium space will provide visibility of activities between multiple levels of the building and be the primary organizing concept for traffic generating spaces such as dining, entertainment and retail venues.
- The bookstore will be located to serve on-campus students, faculty and staff, and visitors conveniently. The bookstore will have a strong street presence with adjacency to convenient, short-term parking.