Phoenix College Fine Arts

1. 2009 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture Phoenix College Fine Arts Phoenix, Arizona Higher Education Project of Distinction/New Construction D.L. Withers Construction

2. Phoenix College Fine Arts

3. High Visibility Community Environment: The Fine Arts Building at Phoenix College celebrates and reinforces the school mandate of “Go far, close to home.” This state-of-the-art facility enables the College to attract visiting artists to exhibit, lecture and teach within the building. The structure reflects the high quality of art education at Phoenix College. Working collaboratively with artists and educators alike, the design team developed a design to give voice to the partnership of art in education. The building creates an energy within the department and the community at large that will naturally open new doors to growth for students in the Fine Arts Program. Generous amounts of curtain wall and glass were incorporated into this building, which can be seen from the street. Brick work was used on this building to keep the historical connection between the existing buildings throughout the campus and the surrounding neighborhood.

4. The Eric Fischl Gallery Community Environment: The Fine Arts Gallery, now named Eric Fischl Gallery after the American Contemporary Realist painter and sculptor, who is a Phoenix College alumnus, provides artists the opportunity to exhibit, lecture and teach cultural and international events. The gallery hosted its first international show on March of 2009, with an exhibit of contemporary Chinese ceramic artists, who are making the Phoenix College Eric Fischl Gallery the first stop on their national tour.

5. Spacious Classrooms Learning Environment:The new Fine Arts Building will have a great impact on student learning, with larger studio classrooms-and less shared studio space-with individual areas for Watercolor/Foundations, Painting, and Drawing, giving students the ideal means by which they can exercise their creativity. Larger and more functional Ceramics and Photography Studios were built, including both darkroom and digital lab facilities, providing students with space and equipment needed for greater impact of learning.

6. Inspirational Classrooms Learning Environment: With wide windows, natural lighting and views of the surrounding community, students are easily inspired by their environment and can let their creativity flow onto their canvas. Keeping with Phoenix Colleges goal of providing students with cutting-edge technology and a conducive learning environment, the computer graphics labs, commercial photography, and video studios were all expanded and include new technology. A multifunctional 75-seat lecture hall was designed and built with flexible seating and state-of-the-art digital media capabilities to enhance student learning and abilities from any location in the classroom. The lecture hall also provides the opportunity for the community and College to interact in public events.

7. Sustainability Physical Environment : The fine arts building is filled with natural daylight in the classrooms, offices, studio and gallery, providing students with the best lighting for their studies. Materials emitting low amounts of VOC’s were used. Mechanical systems use an economizer to utilize outside air when outdoor temperatures allow and activate the system. White roofing was utilized to reflect summer sun. High performance insulated glass utilizing low E coatings were used. Air and water barriers were used as part of the building's exterior skin to eliminate air and water infiltration. These sustainable elements make this building a high energy performance building.

8. Exterior Features Physical Environment: This two-story building was designed and built in an L shape to encourage interaction between the programs and the surrounding community, with the highly visible Eric Fischl Gallery as a centerpiece. The facility encompasses a landscaped courtyard or enclave to encourage contemplative thought for the art students and its designed for cultural and artistic reflection. A rooftop terrace and future sculpture garden above the gallery provides an open-air gathering space for after-exhibit celebrations. The unique space allows students and visitors to view the nearby neighborhood and the expanding Valley, giving literal expression to the school’s mandate of “Go far, close to home.”

9. Open Communication Planning Process: The project team of Phoenix College, DLR Group and D.L. Withers Construction were all involved in the planning process. Representing Phoenix College was the Director of Maintenance and Facilities as well as the Fine Arts Department Chair. The planning process was focused on the students and providing them with a facility that will enhance their learning environment. The entire planning team held weekly progress meetings to discuss all design and construction issues and resolved them in a timely manner. During the post occupancy phase the team continued to meet and discussed things that could have been done differently.

10. Enhancing the Vision Planning Process: Quality was monitored on a daily basis during the construction process to ensure the final environment was aligned with the Vision and Goals set during the planning stage. Close coordination with the College guaranteed that the Vision and Goals would be fully executed. Design phase duration began in September 2007 and was completed in December 2007.

11. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2009 Project Data

12. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2009 Project Details

13. “Phoenix College is so proud of our new Fine Arts Building.  From an exterior perspective, the building is modern, progressive and beautiful, while still capturing the essence of the PC history and palette.  It provides a strong northern identity for the College and blends with adjacent buildings for a dramatic court yard.   In terms of the impact on the students, it is a masterpiece.  The building is open and airy, with wonderful use of natural light; a must for any successful art program.  It features state of the art learning and lab spaces and will most assuredly increase art registration for the Institution.  The gallery space is first class and has been recognized and ultimately named for a world class artist, Mr. Eric Fischl.” -Doug McCarthy, Director of Maintenance, Phoenix College