NAC Inc.

Bellevue College Residential Hall

Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer

BELLEVUE COLLEGE RESIDENTIAL HALL

NAC Architecture

LOCATION
Bellevue, United States

CATEGORY
University, Student Hall

AREA
135000 ft²

YEAR
2018

PHOTOGRAPHS
Lara Swimmer

MANUFACTURERS
AEP Span, Fundermax, Milliken, Mohawk Group

LEAD ARCHITECT
Dana Harbaugh

PROJECT MANAGER
Tom Golden

DESIGN PRINCIPAL
Ron Van Der Veen

PROJECT/JOB CAPTAIN
Jeff Hyslop

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
Mark Gifford

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Rob Kuffel

PROJECT DESIGNER
Saif Vagh

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Sarah Finis

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Walsh Construction Company

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Communita Atelier

STRUCTURAL
DCI Engineers

CIVIL
Coughlin Porter Lundeen

MECHANICAL
Hargis Engineers Inc.

Text description provided by architect.

Formerly the largest community college in Washington State, Bellevue College has recently made the dramatic evolution from com¬muter-college to a 24/7, live/learn four-year institution.

Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer
Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer

This 370-bed project is conceived in three distinct parts: the west residential wing, the east residential wing, and a common area referred to as “the hub.”

The wings break down into nine “neighborhoods” each house approximately 40 students. Within each building wing, centrally located floor lounges invite views and gathering.

Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer
Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer
Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer

Glass bridges connect the east and west wings on each floor and also provide quiet space for study and reflection.

The community-oriented ground floor spaces are distributed throughout the site to give students from a wide variety of backgrounds places to connect, unwind, and grow.

The ground floor spaces also connect to a central community area that has become a satellite to the campus student union.

Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer
Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer

Public roof decks and a terraced courtyard amphitheater boast some of the best Pacific Northwest views in the area. A gourmet café is also included and offers both residents and commuting students a vibrant place to gather and dine.

The restaurant’s orientation allows students to watch campus baseball games in the spring and summer months. Like the café, the Hall itself has emerged as a lively, sustainable “community of scholars,” and the vibrant foundation for the new campus culture.

Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer
Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer
Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer
Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer

A central courtyard extends off of the hub, acting not only as an outdoor gathering space but as a way to celebrate sustainability. The new residence hall achieved a LEED Platinum certification, and this courtyard intentionally puts eco-friendly strategies on display.

The terraced landscape design includes cascading rain gardens that engage observers while educating them about how natural, low-im¬pact systems filter and clean stormwater.

Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer
Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer

A series of waterfalls carries rainwater along an outdoor amphitheater, which features lines from a Langston Hughes poem about rain etched into the seat walls.

Bellevue College’s student government embraced this highly-vis¬ible sustainability initiative and helped bring it to life by investing their own student funds into these sustainable landscape improve¬ments.

Bellevue College Residential Hall
© Lara Swimmer


Bellevue College Residential Hall
Section A
Bellevue College Residential Hall
Section B


Bellevue College Residential Hall
Site plan
Bellevue College Residential Hall
Plan - First floor plan
Bellevue College Residential Hall
Plan - Third floor

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NAC Inc.
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