Transcript Project Name

2008 Exhibition of School
Planning and Architecture
Communication Arts Building,
Cuyamaca College
El Cajon, California
Institution of Higher Education
Project of Distinction
NTD Architecture
Communication Arts Building,
Cuyamaca College
Exterior Details
Community Environment
Framing the outdoor space with its curvilinear
form, a central gathering place has been
created, activated by student use throughout
the day and public activities in the evening. With
the performing arts theater, digital theater, and
art gallery/lobby opening off of the new lower
site area, it is frequently used as an
indoor/outdoor space for public events. This has
provided a much needed connection between
the college and its surrounding context,
providing an invitation to its community to share
use of the new facility.
The Communication Arts building presents itself
as a new face to a growing campus. Oriented
toward the main entrance of the college, the
three-story facade both relates to the curvature
of many existing buildings, while also greeting
visitors as a representation of a new direction
the college is heading. The combination of its
architectural aesthetic, its careful site
positioning, and the new programs contained
within, has been a welcomed addition to
Cuyamaca Community College, and signifies a
transition from the college’s past to the future.
North and South Elevations,
Vertical Circulation
Community Environment
Cut into a hillside, the Communication Arts Building creates a bridge between the
upper and lower campus with its central vertical circulation design.
Fine Arts
Learning Environment
The Communication Arts Building brings
much needed lab and assembly space
to Cuyamaca College, giving students
ideal means by which they can exercise
their creativity. Past studies have
indicated that the chronic lack of
specialized lab facilities has prohibited
students from filling out their curricula.
This program brings the necessary labrelated facilities to fill the gap and
enables the college to provide the
students what they need to build a
foundation for success.
Programs include English, ESL,
Reading, Speech, American Sign
Language, Music, Drama, Fine Arts,
Assisted Learning, instructional labs,
and independent learning labs.
Lobby/Fine Arts Gallery
The lobby area, which is shared with the
recital hall, serves as the main gallery
space for the fine arts program. The fine
and digital arts programs include
painting, drawing and sculpture
instruction.
Fine Arts Lab
Music Department/Theater
Learning Environment
As home to the College’s music and
drama programs, the building features a
four hundred-seat theater/recital hall,
adjacent scenery construction, rehearsal,
and costuming spaces.
The music department has acoustically
optimized instrument and choral
rehearsal rooms, a music library, and an
electronic music lab. There is also a one
hundred-seat digital theater capable of
widescreen cinema projection and digital
multi-media presentations.
Sun Control
Physical Environment
Generous amounts of exterior
glazing surround the building,
allowing ample daylight in and
views out to the surrounding
areas. Shade elements have been
carefully designed to control heat
gain from direct sun penetration.
Daylighting
Physical Environment
Daylight-filled spaces are throughout to provide
the best lighting for its art programs, as well as
reducing the building's dependence on artificial
lighting, improving energy performance.
Adjacency Diagrams
Planning Process
The Communication Arts Complex was driven by the
Facilities Master Plan that was completed in 2000.
This project is the first educational facility that links
the lower and upper portions of the campus, providing
an educational facility within close proximity to
existing parking.
The project addressed the need for a facility to
complete the educational requirements in English,
Humanities and Fine and Professional Art programs,
which were not adequately provided with the former
facilities.
The Communication Arts Complex was jointly funded
by District Proposition R funds and State Proposition
5 bond funds, administered by the Chancellor's Office
of the California Community Colleges.
The Chancellor's Office reviewed and approved the
Initial Project Proposal (IPP) and the Final Project
Proposal (FPP). Approval to receive bids for
construction was acquired in 2005.
Schematic Design Options
Planning Process
As a partially state funded project, there were restrictions on the amount of certain types of spaces which
could be constructed, based on the existing "inventory" of space already owned by the District. Through the
IPP and FPP process, the allowable types and quantities of spaces were determined and approved by the
Chancellor's Office, forming foundation for the programming process.
Each academic department that would occupy the building was presented with questionnaires asking for
specific design criteria for each space in the building. These criteria were to include adjacency requirements,
spatial needs, special power/ lighting/ environmental needs, acoustical requirements, and organizational
issues as they relate to how instruction is delivered. Those questionnaires were returned to NTD, who after
reviewing them, met with each department to get clarification on intent.
Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture
2008 Project Data
Submitting Firm :
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
NTD Architecture
Architect
Richard Nowicki, AIA
Partner
9655 Granite Ridge Drive, Suite 400
San Diego, California 92123, USA
858/565.4440
Joint Partner Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
N/A
Other Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
N/A
Construction Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
Rudolph & Sletten, Inc.
General Contractor
Brett Jenson
Senior Superintendent
10955 Vista Sorrento Parkway
San Diego, California 92130, USA
858/793.1308
Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture
2008 Project Details
Project Name
Communication Arts Building
City
El Cajon
State
California
District Name
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
Supt/President
Dale Switzer
Occupancy Date
Fall 2007
Grades Housed
Community College
Capacity (Students)
936 per instruction hour
Site Size (acres)
2 acres
Gross Area (sq. ft.)
84,000 SF
Per Occupant (pupil)
90 SF per instruction hour
gross/net please indicate
84,000 SF
Design and Build?
No
If yes, Total Cost:
Includes:
If no,
Site Development:
$3,194,932.00
Building Construction:
$22,033,283
Fixed Equipment:
$122,090.00
Other:
$0
Total:
$25, 350,305.00