This campus design is set around a major axial passageway that runs to the East and West through the center of the campus.  This axis aligns with Huning Street to the East of the site in order to create a relationship with the surrounding neighborhood and promote economic development that will establish it as a successful part of the campus community district. 

The West end of the site finishes off the axis with a cool tower and a curved building which acts as a focal feature for both the campus community and the traffic down 6th street.  Secondary axes running to the north and south intersect the main access way, allowing for ease of movement through the site and connecting the campus to surrounding streets and pathways.  This also allows for possible expansion to the north towards the Deuce of Clubs.

LEED certification (see appendix) has also influenced the design of the site and calls for certain characteristics and features.  It would also create a wonderful environment to stimulate future education about sustainable principles for the students and the surrounding community.

FUNCTIONAL
With an axial layout, the campus plan is uncomplicated and the pathways between the buildings are clear and direct.  The design also allows for easy connection between the site and the surrounding streets and connection ways.  The axis along the site continues the line of Huning Street onto the campus as the major circulation system.  A cross-axis running North to South through the site also establishes a relationship with the parcels to the North, and the Deuce of Clubs at the end of the block.  This creates the potential to develop student housing, a city garden, or any number of functions that will help integrate the university with the city and offer a pedestrian friendly connection to the Deuce. 

The clear organization of the site also creates a safe environment for the students and the surrounding community.  The buildings and features on the rest of the site are spaced to eliminate any potentially dangerous areas on the campus.  Outdoor areas have also been placed so as to create sunny or shaded areas that will be comfortable to occupy throughout the year. 

Traffic and access to the site is clearly defined with vehicular access to the west where visitors will first be introduced to the campus.  The west building will call attention to the campus as an entity and serve as the focal feature on the site.  The main pedestrian access to the site is from the east and secondarily from the north toward Huning and the Deuce. 

walkway trhough an alley of aspens



campus center looking northwest


east entrance of campus

ENVIRONMENTAL
Most of the campus buildings follow the principles of solar orientation with longer edges toward the north and south to allow for natural lighting and easily shaded areas.  With smaller facades to the east and west, harsh light during the mornings and afternoons is blocked from the building interiors.  Solar angles will also be utilized to harness energy with the building roofs sloped to hold solar panels that will sit at an angle that will most effectively collect solar energy. 

This campus design also utilizes the natural slope of the site to direct water flow down to the east and eventually toward Show Low Creek.  The runoff water from the building roofs will also be reused on the site and redirected to water the surrounding landscape. 

The landscape design is based on native vegetation in the form of trees, shrubs and groundcovers, along with an orchard of fruit trees that will thrive in this area and provide fruit for the university inhabitants.  With the symmetry provided by the building layouts, a water feature that moves from east to west was designed with consideration to times when there is a water event and when there is not. The chaddars of water in four topically separate structures will add a sculptural quality to the east -west exterior corridors when dry and provide movement of water down to the Whipple wash during major water events.  Its design is based on the flow of shallow creek movement as it moves downstream, and acts as an abstract dry creek when no water event is occurring.  With a variety of sources for the water on the site (run-off from the buildings, grey water and precipitation) the water features will remain active almost continuously.  Water from the features can also be re-directed on the site to irrigate vegetation.

TENSILE SHADE STRUCTURES
An increasingly popular method for providing shade to an exterior space is the utilization of tensile structures.  They are very light weight, create cool microclimates below them, allow for air movement through, and create a unique and dynamic aesthetic quality.  When combined with a cool tower, these structures can truly create conditioned outdoor spaces. 

COOL TOWER
A basic cool tower functions like an evaporative cooler.  When it is warm outside, the warm air enters the cool tower at the top.  The air passes through pads that are kept damp to cool the passing air.  Air flow continues down the shaft of the enclosed tower, and then exits at the bottom in the direction of the auditorium seating.  This will provide cool air to mediate the temperature of this outdoor seating area.  To assist in moderating the cooler temperature during the warmer seasons a tensile shade structure will cover this seating area.  The shade will be light, contrasting the heavy concrete of the gathering space below. 

AESTHETIC
With a solid building on the western edge of the site, the noise from the fire and police stations will be blocked from the majority of the campus.  This west building will also serve as a focus area for traffic down 6th Street, as well as for the pedestrian traffic moving through the site along the main axial passageway.  The curvilinear forms of the building call it out as a distinctive and significant structure within the campus.  Due to its unique design and placement, it will serve as a unique anchor building.

The cool tower, located toward the center of the site will act as a focal area drawing visual attention down the length of the main campus “street.”  It will also provide shade, with tensile structures, and natural cooling to an outdoor classroom space with auditorium seating on three sides. 

The water feature running toward the Huning Street campus entrance begins near the cool tower.  It first takes the shape of the cool tower’s footprint at its beginning where water from the site enters from below and swirls around and into the first of four chaddar features.  It moves from feature to feature underground until it meets at a terminating stair of water where an abstract sculpture, titled, “Apache Man and Woman” acts as the focal point to this campus entrance.

SOCIO-CULTURAL
The main axial circulation pathway through the site creates a campus community on the site.  Other open spaces throughout the campus will act as gathering areas or places for relaxation for both the students and the general public in Show Low.  There are many outdoor seating areas that provide space for those just wanting to enjoy the weather, and will encourage interaction between the college and the city as well as pedestrian travel to the campus and in the surrounding areas. 

By locating some student housing on site the pedestrian traffic in these areas will be reinforced with students having to walk or bike to Huning Street, the Deuce of Clubs or the NPC campus. 

ECONOMIC
Many of the businesses along the Deuce and in the nearby university district will benefit by the addition of a university campus.  Much merchant activity can serve as support businesses to the university.  Due to the needs of university campuses, these support businesses should increase in number and diversity.  Because of the influx of students, faculty and administration, the population of Show Low will increase.  This will influence housing needs in the Show Low area. The university will also employ many residents, an added benefit.

Increased business activity will improve economic conditions helping Show Low to continue to thrive and perhaps bring more opportunity for smart growth. 

Educational and cultural events provided by the university will also bring added business support to Show Low and act as an additional draw to this area.  Events such as conferences and workshops can be hosted by the university and can also potentially house the conference attendees. 

The economic benefits of bringing a university campus to Show Low are many and make this endeavor one worth serious consideration.