Description

ESC Center - Bishop is the one newest college centers in California, located in Bishop for the Kern Community College District. The center was planned as a mega building in order to reduce the surface area and provide a more efficient building envelope.

The building is planned to expand linearly as enrollments grow along the north-south axis. The lobby serves as a reading study area, as well as a gathering place for students between classes. The structural elements were used to break up the lobby/reading study area to create interest as well as diffuse the natural lighting from the clerestory windows. The lobby, which runs the axis of the building, is framed at each end with a large window framed element that is accented by the lobby ceiling elements as well as the gentle curved lobby ceiling. This center has a co-lab, which is a science laboratory, that functions for all sciences allowing higher space utilization. The windows in many rooms are openable for the mild spring and fall seasons where natural ventilation/lighting can be used to save energy. Windows and entrances are deep set under overhangs designed for solar gain in the winter and shading during the summer.

The exterior colors were selected from viewing the indigenous plant colors of the area through the seasons. The window elements where designed to allow natural lighting, when possible, during the year and harmonize with the exterior design. The entries are defined by the arched canopies to define entrance. This element carries through the lobby to the opposite end entry.