en.Wedoany.com Reported - Smith College in the U.S. has completed a new mass timber student center designed by TenBerke on its campus originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, with the building overlooking Paradise Pond.

Rather than echoing the stately campus context through imitation, TenBerke employed a modern and richly textured brick facade that engages in a dialogue with the historic atmosphere. The firm worked closely with engineers from Thornton Tomasetti to create this all-electric building in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Named Kathleen McCartney Hall, the approximately 15,000-square-foot building hosts events such as career fairs, networking workshops, and lectures. TenBerke noted in a statement that the building houses two centers—the Lazarus Center for Career Development and the Wurtele Center for Collaborative Leadership—under one shared roof.

The building is composed of two distinctly different volumes, with the street-facing volume slightly lower than the rear one to achieve visual harmony with the surrounding buildings.

Arthi Krishnamoorthy, Senior Principal at TenBerke, stated that every material and every carefully crafted detail in the building is designed to invite students to explore and linger. The warmth of the wood, the play of light and shadow on the brick, and the thoughtfully considered spaces create a sense of calm and comfort, encouraging curiosity, reflection, and discovery.

The building's corners feature sinuous curves, and large expanses of glazing provide optimal views of Paradise Pond and the broader Northampton area. A frit pattern composed of fine vertical lines protects birds without compromising the views. Vertical fins on the facade are used to modulate daylight.

The interior is largely finished in wood, similar to other recent mass timber projects that leverage wood's biophilic properties, such as the Anthony Timberlands Center for the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, designed by Grafton Architects. A sculptural handrail embodies the building's commitment to craftsmanship, down to the smallest detail.

The student center aligns with Smith College's landscape master plan, developed by MNLA, which aims to achieve better connectivity between Chapin Lawn and College Lane, among other goals. It is also part of Smith College's campus-wide geothermal energy project, intended to significantly reduce the college's carbon footprint.

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