Sewanee - The University of the South Wellness Commons
WBA Architecture
Sewanee - The University of the South Wellness Commons
WBA Architecture
Awards Category : : Large Project (over 25,000 sf)
Located on a hill near the center of campus, the Sewanee Wellness Commons is a beacon of activity. The building’s primary frontage is an early 1900s stone masonry building that served as the university’s first bookstore, with an addition set back from the street and sloping downhill to create the opportunity for more space on a lower level. This allows for a brighter and more open feel for the active, upper-level spaces, while providing a more safe, secure, and private experience for the clinic and counseling centers tucked into the hill on the lower level.
Located on a hill near the center of campus, the building was envisioned as a beacon of activity, reflecting the student body’s extracurricular focus on health, wellness, and outdoor recreation.
The building’s primary frontage is an early 1900s stone masonry building that served as the university’s first bookstore. The addition is set back from the street to give prominence to the original building and to make space for the terraced entry. Because the rear of the site slopes downhill, the majority of the program in the addition is located on the lower level and under the terrace. This massing strategy allows the addition to remain “hidden in plain sight,” while housing nearly six times the space as the original building.
A central circulation spine unites the two building masses, while also providing spatial relief between old and new construction. The monumental stair in the circulation spine highlights the dramatic shift in terrain on the site and the distinct character of both the existing and new buildings. The addition is clad in places with Tennessee limestone to reflect the strength and solidity of the existing bookstore building and older stone buildings typical on campus, but also incorporates modern glazing assemblies elsewhere to reflect its present-day origin. This allows for a brighter and more open feel for the active, upper level spaces of the Wellness Commons, while providing a more safe, secure, and private experience for the clinic and counseling centers tucked into the hill on the lower level.
Date of Completion: August 2020
Client: Sewanee - The University of the South
General Contractor: American Constructors
Consultants:
Barge Cauthen - Civil Engineering
Uzun + Case - Structural Engineering
OGCB Inc - MEP Engineering
Photography Credits:
Photography Credit: Joey Martin
Captions:
1. The building’s primary frontage is an early 1900s stone masonry building that served as the university’s first bookstore. The addition is set back from the street to give prominence to the original building and to make space for the terraced entry.
2. Before: The original stone building to the right. An underutilized and inefficient previous addition was demolished to make way for the new addition.
3. Terraced entry leading up to the building. A terra cotta shade structure not only provides shade for the adjacent glazing, but also helps to visually soften the stone clad elements.
4. Because the rear of the site slopes downhill, the majority of the program in the addition is located on the lower level and under the terrace.
5. A central circulation spine unites the two building masses, while also providing spatial relief between old and new construction.
6. The active, upper level spaces of the Wellness Commons have an bright and open feel,
7. Student Lounge upon entry.
8. The monumental stair in the circulation spine highlights the dramatic shift in terrain on the site and the distinct character of both the existing and new buildings.
9. Circulation Spine looking south.
10. The active, upper level spaces of the Wellness Commons have an bright and open feel,
11. Located near the center of campus, the new building building was envisioned as a beacon of activity,
12. The spaces reflect the student body’s extracurricular focus on health, wellness, and outdoor recreation.
13. A terra cotta shade structure not only provides shade for the adjacent glazing, but also helps to visually soften the stone clad elements.
14. The massing strategy allows the addition to remain “hidden in plain sight,” while housing nearly six times the space as the original building.
15. The addition is clad in places with Tennessee limestone to reflect the strength and solidity of the existing bookstore building and older stone buildings typical on campus, but also incorporates modern glazing assemblies elsewhere to reflect its present-day origin.