The
New York office of Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum is flexing its design muscles
on Kean University’s new arena and a comprehensive renovation of
the school’s existing D’Angola Gymnasium in Union, N.J. The
overall project includes a new 65,000-square-foot arena and dressing rooms,
office facilities, three basketball courts with seating for 2,500 for
varsity games, and a suspended running track. The 55,000-square-foot gym
gets a renovation plus a 10,000-square-foot addition that will include
dance studios, classrooms, physical education labs, and faculty offices.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2005.
The school and the architects have made sustainable design and construction
a priority and therefore have incorporated photovoltaic cells, natural
ventilation, and geothermal heating and cooling into the project design.
The geothermal heat pump requires more than 100 wells—each 400 feet
deep—to reject and absorb heat from the earth. The building is designed
to capture and use as much natural sunlight as possible, for example through
light shelves that bounce light to where it is wanted and still shade
the windows from intense sunlight. Construction materials reflect those
of the surrounding campus and suggest a simplified palette. The architects
report that wherever possible they will use materials that do not require
coatings or finishes in order to minimize off-gassing, conserve resources,
and reduce costs. In addition, the new facility grounds will be landscaped
to reflect a common athletic theme through use of balls and nets.
Copyright 2003 The American Institute of Architects.
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