Cecil College, Engineering and Mathematics Building

North East, Maryland

Firm

Marshall Craft Associates, Inc.

Client

Cecil College

Area

28,700 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$19,700,000

Completion Date

08/2014

Design team:
Stephen A. Bates, AIA, NCARB; Richard C. Barton, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

The Engineering & Mathematics Building includes engineering and physics laboratories, a math testing and tutoring center, distance learning, a conference room, group and quiet studies and an outdoor terrace. This facility is a major feature of the campus master plan. It serves as a landmark building to welcome visitors to a modern center of higher learning.
A major challenge of this project was designing a building that would be situated in the most prominent location on campus. It was designed with four façades responding to opportunities of orientation, views, solar gain, thermal efficiency, hierarchy of entrance and strong relationships to adjacent buildings. Mirroring the major stair systems on both the interior and exterior established a strong visual connection between the upper and lower areas of the campus.
This facility achieved LEED Gold certification. Throughout the building are sustainable design elements such as a vegetative roof accessible for social interactions and lounging as well as teaching; daylighting controls that maximize the use of natural light; and a rain water catchment system that provides gray water for toilet flushing.