Title: The Den at BCTC
Location of Proejct: Lexington, KY
Project Completion Date: May, 2022
Firm Name: Omni Architects

Short Description: Constructed in 1906, the existing building was one of the structures that comprised the state's psychiatric hospital campus. Unlike other non-descript Southern Colonial buildings on the campus, this building was more utilitarian and served an important function as the hospital's laundry facility. A century later, the local community and technical college acquired the abandoned property for a satellite campus, opting to rehabilitate the building rather than demolish it because of its unique architectural character and heritage. The challenge: The programmatic needs required more than double the square footage of the existing building, resulting in the need for an addition.

Architect's Statement: The Den was named to reflect the college's intention of creating a safe, comfortable space for students to be nurtured and to gather, inspired by a den of foxes that live on the campus. The building embodies the college’s commitment to supporting its students by providing all student admission and advising services in a single location on campus. As a result, this one-stop experience reduces the anxiety students previously experienced when these services were dispersed across various campuses.

To achieve the consolidation, the program would require 19,553 GSF - roughly twice the square footage available in the existing structure - which resulted in the renovation/rehabilitation/expansion of the historic building. The addition is connected to the existing structure via a single-story 'hyphen' - a corridor that nudges the addition thirty feet away to protect the existing building's architectural integrity.

The rehabilitation approach maintains the openness of the volumetric cruciform floor plan through visual exposure of the double-height space. A visitor/welcome center at the crossroads of the building is flanked by a glass-enclosed orientation room and a history gallery. Exposed overhead MEP systems are incorporated within the existing repetitive trusses to maintain the natural daylighting provided by its clerestory windows. New walls were painted a neutral white to reflect light and enhance the existing interior brick masonry, while the trusses were accentuated with a contrasting charcoal color.

The addition features a race track circulation system and clerestory windows that offer architectural continuity but are treated differently from the existing building to distinguish the two. The exterior materials of the addition utilize a brick masonry similar in color to the original structure. The horizontal paneling system emulates the slate found on the clerestory of the existing building and matches the panels found on other new, adjacent campus structures. The integration of old and new is further enhanced by providing ample space and landscaping around the structures. The resultant design solution is sympathetic to the campus context, demonstrating continuity between the student services building and the two previous phases of the campus.

Located at the crossroads of the city’s downtown area and a disadvantaged neighborhood, the project is accessible and within walking distance for both communities. As the result of an inclusive design process that included local residents and council representatives, the program includes shared spaces accessible to the community. There are spaces throughout the building that promote both planned and spontaneous human connection via centrally located seating areas, lounge spaces, and a multi-purpose room. The building supports the college’s social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion goals by providing educational opportunities for all.

Before the renovation/expansion, the college’s student intake services were widely dispersed on multiple campuses, which created a real obstacle to recruitment/retention. The design team worked closely with many staff representatives to develop a graphic flow chart to enable stakeholders to understand, optimize, and improve the interaction between faculty and students, which became the basis for the floor plan. The success of the plan has been validated through the final design and testimonials of users who confirm that the space is being utilized the way they hoped it would be; the staff appreciates the synergy created by having colleagues nearby.

The project also incorporated a number of sustainable initiatives, beginning with the preservation/rehabilitation of the existing historic structure. Through the renovation and addition, the resources typically consumed by the construction of an entirely new building were reduced. Further, regionally sourced brick was utilized, demolition was minimal, and the addition was constructed with a high-performance envelope and systems. The design optimizes space efficiency and flexibility for longevity.

The design is flexible and adaptable in anticipation of future changes in use and occupancy, with floating ceilings that allow for easy reconfiguration of space with little to no impact on the mechanical systems. Through the rehabilitation and expansion initiative, an abandoned structure with great architectural and historical significance once again houses services that are tremendously valuable to the campus.