A-B Tech Police Department, Multipurpose Building

Asheville, NC

Among the successes characterizing the new Asheville-Buncombe (A-B) Technical Community College’s multipurpose facility was meeting a challenging schedule. Event reservations were being taken six months before project completion. Clark Nexsen coordinated a large design team that included Buncombe County management, A-B Tech Faculty, A-B Tech Staff, and the Construction Management Team.

Clark Nexsen architects and engineers worked closely with college staff and faculty to identify campus planning opportunities that could be leveraged through the new design. The Multipurpose Building and its exterior plaza serve as a gateway to A-B Tech’s Asheville campus’ western edge, connecting the main pedestrian pathway to an important educational quad. The facility accommodates conferences up to 800 people, with the flexibility to be subdivided and entertain classes and groups as small as 30. The building is a resource to the faculty and staff of the College and the community of Asheville.

The diverse building program is unified by a three-story, daylit atrium which weaves circulation through informal gathering areas together to create a vibrant place for students between classes. Blurring the distinction between interior and exterior, the voluminous space acts as both a gateway to future expansion and as a town square where chance encounters and the exchange of ideas is encouraged.

The building also contains the new home of the A-B Tech Police Department. This facility substantially updates day-to-day operations and more importantly, increases visibility, accessibility, and approachability of security staff to the students they serve.

SIZE 25,000 SF  /  COMPLETION  2016  /  COST  $8,500,000