Pub. 4 2016 Directory

20 THE MONTANA ARCHITECT | 2016 | www.aia-mt.org T he Montana chapter of the American Institute of Ar- chitects (AIA) recognized Comma-Q Architecture, a Bozeman-based firm, with the AIA Merit Award for its innovative take on the new Jabs Hall, an academic meeting place at Montana State University (MSU). AIA’s professional jury lauded Comma-Q’s design for its elegant lines and balanced composition. They recognized the building’s material selection and strong sustainable achievements, lending a thoughtful simplicity to each scholarly space. Opening its doors in May 2015, Jabs Hall at MSU provides 50,830 square feet of learning facilities. A gift from alum Jake Jabs, the building supports the College’s mission of inspiring creativity, in- novation and growth as a welcoming destination for both students and faculty of all disciplines. Comma-Q’s design parti places classrooms at the south of the building, where generously glazed windows allow sunlight to brightly permeate learning spaces. There, exterior vertical zinc pan- els emulate the city’s prominent mountain range and neighboring river basins. In addition, a south-facing solar wall preheats fresh air coming into the building, reducing the amount of energy needed to heat it during cold Montana winters. This design element also includes sensors, providing valuable data for a solar energy re- search project conducted by MSU’s College of Engineering. On the north end, faculty and administration offices are clad in rich, stratified terra cotta panels, complementing the masonry of Montana Hall, MSU’s most iconic structure on campus. Here, punched windows reduce heat loss in the colder months while still providing ample daylight in shallower spaces. In between the north and south ends are open spaces - the core of the informal learning environment - encouraging seamless col- laboration between students and faculty in a comfortable setting. Two-story forums at the ground and third floors feature warm fireplace hearths, a welcome respite from Bozeman’s snowy storms. A grand staircase knits the four floors together, offering access to various transparent and light-filled workspaces, flexible classroom “porches,” technology-driven trading pits, and quiet study niches that overlook the Bridger Mountain Range and surrounding vistas. Behind the scenes, 52 closed loop geo-exchange wells are connect- ed by nearly ten miles of tubing, supplying ground-sourced water for heating and cooling. Low flow plumbing and LED lighting are incorporated, alongside recycled materials and locally-sourced counters and stone, into hundred-year building skin systems. All Jabs Hall Comma-Q Architecture Merit Award