The Innovation Forest.

Building Systems Integrated Studio lead by Prof. Bruce Swetnam, in collaboration with Hunter Halfhill. Proposal for the Graduate Degree + Certificate in Building Science Program Facility at the University of Kentucky

With the context of Lexington and the site’s unique position to the urban context and campus context, we began to reflect the duality of the program to the duality of the site context.

Only a few yards lie between the context of what feels like fringe campus as it bleeds into the industrial area of Lexington.

Similarly the program requirements for the Master’s of building Sciences encompasses program that very much belongs formally in a campus setting; library, auditorium, lecture halls. And, on the other side of the coin, demands program that is more suited to an industrial area; build yard, fabrication shop, and informal support type spaces (i.e. food truck availability)

As we began to compare this fundamental duality between formal and informal spaces, we began to find to large nodes being strung by supporting program that is as formal as it is informal.

Naturally different.

When it comes to sustainability, there was no single “checklist” item about the design of this building that made it “green” or “eco friendly.” Instead, my partner and I approached each design decision with the same mindset of leaving the land improved to how we found it, and letting the building reflect that outwards to the site, and inwards to the occupants. Each decision was made to reduce energy load, embodied energy in materials, and encourage a more sustainable existence to the people who use the building. When it came time to asses for final documentation, the building would consequentially be eligible for LEED platinum status.