Pub. 7 2019 Directory

12 THE MONTANA ARCHITECT | 2019-2020 | www.aia-mt.org Norm Asbjornson Hall A&E Honor Award Norm Asbjornson Hall Located on the Montana State University campus, Norm Asbjorn- son Hall sets a new standard for how engineering should be taught. As an innovative model for cross-disciplinary education, the build- ing serves as a conduit for fostering collaboration between unique partnerships, including engineering, art, and business, to bring together a wide range of programs into one facility where synergy occurs by design. The 116,709 square foot facility houses both the College of Engineer- ing and Honors College for MSU. The design was thoughtfully creat- ed to inspire a new generation of innovators, and reflects the student body’s desire for a learning environment driven by collaboration. A variety of dynamic spaces encourage free-flowing discourse and discovery, while ample technology empowers students to explore and develop ideas into tangible outcomes. Multi-purpose areas simultaneously allow for lecture, team-based learning, hands-on investigation, formal presentation, and musical performances. To ensure every student, both current and prospective, that walks through the building is immersed in the processes of creative engineering, all lab spaces are theatrically “put on display.” The building’s innovative mechanical equipment is showcased through transparent glass panels to provide real-world applications for con- cepts studied in the classroom. At the building’s core, all technical labs open onto Innovation Alley, which serves as both a community corridor and student workspace. Overhead doors allow multiple labs to spill out into the Innovation Alley, where more complex collaboration can take place. To provide a supplementary workspace for larger projects, the outdoor Engi- neering Yard allows for enhanced exploration, study, and teamwork. While Norm Asbjornson Hall breaks new ground for the evolving pedagogy of engineering, it also elevates energy-efficient design to a new level. The facility is the first LEED Platinum building on cam- pus, and one of only 10 LEED Platinum buildings in Montana. Utilizing multiple solar walls, photovoltaics, and an underground geothermal system, the facility is predominately heated and cooled by natural sources. Thermochromatic glass on south-facing windows change tint to control glare and heat, while built-in data collection systems track building performance for optimum, long- term efficiency. The building’s revolutionary performance initiated a new Energy District for the University. Because the facility often generates more energy than it uses, excess heat can be transferred to surrounding buildings, facilitating sustainability across campus.