Description

Eastern Sierra Community College-Mammoth is one of the newest college centers in California for the Kern Community College District, located in Mammoth Lakes. The center was planned as a mega building due to the harsh winter climate. The building is planned to expand linearly as enrollments grow along a spine element. The lobby serves as a reading study area as well as a gathering place for students between classes. The generous use of wood is used in the ceilings, wall accents and wood-openable windows. The building is not air conditioned as the mild summers allow for use of natural lighting and ventilation. Right angle to the lobby are doors opening east and west that allow access to the natural vistas of the Mammoth Lakes region. Many natural rock outcroppings were kept in place as natural rockeries with indigenous landscaping rather than imported species. The center was designed to fit into the mountain snow-laden community and do not have an institutional look. Materials used are stone, cedar siding and painted steel as well as metal roofing were used on the exterior and interior. The west side includes an outdoor area off the lobby with overhangs to shed snow as well as shade during the mild summer. The building was sited to allow snow shedding away from entrances as well as allow for snow removal. Steel trusses accent the lobby entrances, which silhouette the storefront behind them. The stone columns define the entry for first-time students, as well as massing balance. Gables define each end of the facility with a snow shed to allow safe entrance during heavy snow periods. The east primary entrance is framed by rock areas salvaged from the excavation rather than being disposed offsite.