Pub. 5 2017 Directory

22 THE MONTANA ARCHITECT | 2017 | www.aia-mt.org Citation Design Award Laramie County Community College Flex Tech Building CTA Architects Engineers Project Description The greater Cheyenne, Wyoming area is experiencing rapid growth in a number of industries that require specialized training. Laramie County Community College is uniquely positioned to provide education in these areas of oil, gas, energy related fields, small and large engine repair, manufacturing, and construction. To accommodate the growth and shifts in these markets, the college is keeping pace with a new 48,700 sf Flexible Technology Building. The “Flex Tech” is currently home to LCCC’s Diesel Tech, Welding Tech, and Engi- neering Tech programs and complementary classroom spaces. Additional capacity is designed into the program to allow for future, unpredictable growth of not only these programs, but also to accommodate future tech fields not yet foreseen. Therefore, maximum flexibility within the building and growth for future phases was a key guiding principle for the design. Learning on Display The Flex Tech occupies a significant site on the LCCC Campus. It is both the east terminus of the central mall linking the academic core as well as the first impression of the college for the community. The east façade, a curtain wall of glass housing the “Flex Tech Space”, puts “learning on display”. The space sets the tone to engage industry partners and recruit students with a professional tech environment, and also acts as a multi-use space for classrooms, conferences, and community events. To foster greater interdisciplinary interaction and collaboration, the concept of putting “learning on display” also influenced transparency in the learning environ- ment. Visual connections between classrooms, shop space, offices, project areas, and break out spaces expose students both inside and outside the Tech programs to