In this project completed for the University of California, Irvine, FPBA sought to evoke the facility’s mission of providing a better quality life to people. Common areas and amenities provide balance to the important, focused research work in the laboratories areas. Working with the existing constraints of the low-clearance basement proved to be the biggest challenge, as the space receives almost no natural light. To counteract this, uplifting colors are applied throughout the space, and the general ambience is greatly enhanced with the high ceilings and direct/indirect lighting that bounces off ceilings. The resulting facility maximizes research space, including bench, shelving and equipment. BIM enabled FPBA to realistically model the space and utility coordination before the first construction activity occurred, saving the entire team time, money and rework. Should future changes need to be made, they will be designed with the benefit of an accurate 3D model of all existing conditions.
The LEED Platinum UCI Alumni Center establishes a presence that extends far beyond the borders of the campus to generate an economical, educational, and cultural bridge to the world. FPBA weaved this ideology into the design, and through a meticulous and collaborative process, the team yielded a facility embodying a balance of progressive architecture, sustainable design, and thoughtful campus integration with maximized program efficiencies. An elegant and welcoming folded glass plane at the entry envelops and ties together the compositional form of the building and announces itself as the entry to campus, creating a prominent doorway easily discernible to visitors and establishing a welcoming environment on the campus to students and alumni. Strong connections and seamless transitions to the natural environment create free-flowing spaces and an atmosphere of celebration. The nature of the facility and the location of the site dictate the form of the building, and the resulting design takes on that of an iconic marker.
