Client: North Orange County Community College District

76,500 SF

The Instructional Building is located on the historic Fullerton College campus in downtown Fullerton, which is owned by the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) and is a 3 story, 76,500 square foot structure that is an iconic, and elegant entry to the campus core.  The design intends to compliment the historic value of the original beaux art 1930’s campus while welcoming students and faculty into new various sized communal socialization spaces intertwined with programmatic spaces to create an inviting environment in which to teach and learn. This direct access to the building’s interior and exterior spaces supports the College’s mission of “promoting a sense of community that enhances the well-being of [the] campus” and fostering a “supportive and inclusive environment for students to be successful learners”.  The education technology systems included data, public address systems and specialized audio/visual systems within the classrooms, meeting/ conference rooms and outdoor gathering space within the courtyard. The project site was challenged with a very tight and small site urban site that is adjacent to recognized historical buildings that need to be protected.  The courtyard design optimized site conditions and provided views and daylighting for all classrooms and faculty offices. The design phase involved many administrators, faculty and student workshop meetings to reach design consensus. The project incorporates many energy saving principles, including solar shading, extensive daylight harvesting, energy efficient and durable building envelope, and future PV power production. It must be 15% better than title 24 and LEED Silver compliant. RNT assisted the College with site development cost work sheets and building cost estimates that the District’s Construction Manager then used in the applications with the State.