Title: Lanier Technical College, Hall County Campus
Location of Proejct: Gainesville, GA
Project Completion Date: October 2018
Firm Name: Pond

Short Description: This project encompasses academic, continuing education, and workforce development training opportunities over numerous programs. Industry-leading technology offers the flexibility to expand, re-tool and adapt to future advances in sciences, and industry. Using collaborative study and social spaces throughout, the campus fosters relationships between students, faculty, and the north central Georgia community. The contemporary north Georgia architectural vernacular provides a distinct and cohesive design palette for the six primary buildings on campus.

Architect's Statement: Lanier Technical College (LTC), first opened its Oakwood campus in January 1967. The college has experienced tremendous growth over the last 50+ years. To accommodate for rapid growth, this new Hall County campus was designed to support LTC’s mission of providing continuing education and training for the citizens and workforce of north-central Georgia. This “campus of the future” will sustain educational excellence well into the 21st century.

An Integrated Planning Process
The planning process started with a concerted effort to formalize goals and objectives. Starting with an extensive space utilization study, planning involved a wide range of stakeholders from the State system; LTC administration, faculty, staff, students and foundation; local educators; and a variety of community and business partners. The campus was designed as a whole entity rather than individual buildings. The program was subsequently translated into a master planning exercise that gave attention to highlight the wide variety of programs, followed by the design of the six buildings representing over 325,000 SF, and complete development of the 90+ acre site.

The design process was an inclusive one, seeking to find solutions where the sum of the parts was much greater than the whole. Programming sessions were attended by constituents beyond the segment under review, resulting in discussions on fostering connections, sharing resources, and supporting interdisciplinary learning.

Master planning workshops and town hall meetings were held, collecting input from not only the broad array of college departments and stakeholders, but also local industry, government, and businesses. The design solution supports the College’s role in improving the intellectual and technical skills of area residents through six buildings and exterior teaching spaces and as a community resource through Live-Work programs such as dental hygiene, automotive repair, and cosmetology.

Image and Identity
The design supports the College’s mission to provide a quality experience by offering state-of-the-art facilities designed in a sophisticated design palette, comparable to that of four-year institutions. Homage to the regional Northeast Georgia heritage occurs through the use of material and form. A cohesive palette across six buildings includes fieldstone bases anchoring buildings to the earth. Strong thrusting overhangs throughout provided uniformity, shelter from the sun, and affirmed points of entry. Transparency, both interior and exterior, showcased prominent programs.

The site was designed to both respect topography and minimize site costs. As such, the only retainer wall over 90+ acres also serves as a building foundation. Parking is dispersed for convenience and efficiency, and parking aisles are interspersed with low maintenance indigenous landscaping. Outdoor amenities include an amphitheatre, terraces with lake views, and ‘bosque’ to provide an intimate social setting.

Town/Gown Relationships
The community was engaged throughout the entire planning and design process, through town hall meetings, garnering investment and consensus. LTC programs and facilities provide resources to the community, businesses, and industry through training and testing facilities, recertification programs, industry makerspace, teaching research labs, Live-Work programs, and a conference center. The campus also supports the Georgia Quick Start program, ESL education, and high school dual enrolment programs.

LTC provides an environment that is “the place to be” not only for students and staff, but for the greater Hall County community and industry partners to work, learn and expand opportunities.

The college believes that an important part of the student experience is having a sense of belonging in a place ‘where fond memories are made’. As such, the campus design promoted an atmosphere of community, fostering a sense of ownership. A traditional campus quadrangle created connections, reinforcing the community atmosphere. Building arrangement also provided axial views through the campus, further enhancing connectivity.

Results
The campus design supports a highly integrated workforce development curriculum that accommodates over 50 diverse programs including trade and industry, allied sciences, business technologies, hospitality, education, and economic development.

The solution integrates student life components throughout campus including spaces that encourage collaboration, social interaction, and integration of the neighbouring community and businesses. Student life functions including a bookstore, library, and social/study areas are integrated throughout the campus. Many of the components are co-located around the campus quadrangle at the campus core, fostering connections between programs, students, and faculty. This design also promotes a more pedestrian aspect to what is typically found in a commuter campus.

Strategic incorporation of economic and workforce development components fosters partnerships with local industry. These spaces include a conference center and makerspace business incubator labs. Facilities dedicated to emerging technologies in industry (such as wireless technology and ammonia refrigeration) are provided, with space identified for future expansion.