Pub. 5 2017 Directory

18 THE MONTANA ARCHITECT | 2017 | www.aia-mt.org Merit Design Award Yellowstone Hall Montana State University | Bozeman, Montana SMA Architects Project Description SMA Architects and NAC Architecture teamed to collaborate with Montana State University on the design and completion of Yellowstone Hall, a 400 bed freshman residence hall that opened in the summer of 2016. The three wing, four story building houses freshman students in ten 40-bed “communities” on the west side of campus near Roskie Hall and the Hedges Complex. The location and siting of the build- ing creates a “backyard” for all residents living on campus. Outdoor living space includes a climbing rock, outdoor seating and study space, and a large turf area for resident use. The building and site amenities connect campus to the intramural fields, which sits to the west, across 15th Avenue. The new residence hall was designed to provide students with a num- ber of different public and private living areas throughout the building. Both active and quiet lounges are located in each community, while each floor also shares a large living room at the core of the three wing configuration. Yellowstone Hall’s living room is a vibrant lively space for residents to meet before class or engage in a game of pool and provides home-like amenities to make students feel like they are not far from home. The space opens to a large patio area and is both visually and physically connected to Yellowstone’s backyard onMandeville Creek. Student input was of the utmost importance for MSU. To engage them throughout the design process, a student-led committee was assembled that included RDs, RAs, and students from various grade levels. This solicited a wide variety of feedback about what was desired in a new residence hall, from the end users themselves. Program Requirements MSU’s mission is to educate and serve communities by integrating learning, discovery and engagement. Yellowstone Hall was imagined as a vibrant hub where these tenets intersect, and in- spiring students to interact and establish community with their peers was key. 10 distinct student neighborhoods were created throughout the building, each with its own RA, shared bath- rooms, and community study/lounge space. Additionally, each floor within Yellowstone features a central “hub” that serves to connect these residential communities to one another. A large commons area on the first floor provides additional opportuni- ties for students to connect, and features a community kitchen and various lounge spaces. This strategic layout not only facil- itates interaction within their respective neighborhoods, but encourages students to build connections across communities, creating a rich fabric of student engagement. Sustainability Goals MSU stakeholders were passionate about solar access and daylighting. The shape of the building was largely driven by ensuring solar access on all sides. The elongated east/west form creates a “sun mitt” to enhance solar gain during the cold- er seasons. Solar panels heat water for the building, and sun shading mitigates summer sun. Since opening, Yellowstone has become a benchmark for sustainable practices across campus. The building is LEED Gold certified. Image 1