studio gang: arcus center for social justice leadership breaks ground

‘arcus center for social justice leadership’ by studio gang, kalamazoo college, michigan all images courtesy of studio gang

studio gang has shared exclusive images with designboom of the ‘arcus center for social justice leadership’ which broke ground on a forested section of kalamazoo college’s campus last friday. the 10,000 square foot building is imagined as a crossroads and meeting place designed to architecturally manifest the center’s mission of engaging in conversations and activities centered on creating a more just world. the building projects outward in three directions and invites its three immediate contexts inward– the college campus, a residential neighborhood and an old-growth grove of trees. their topography is drawn into the architecture using gently curving walls comprised of locally prevalent methods of wood masonry, which additionally serves to insulate the structure and connect to the tectonic vernacular. aside from its gold LEED target designation, the center uses the principles of circulation to orchestrate fruitful human interaction while respecting the site and responding to the needs of a institution.

three curved arms immediately implicate distinct parts of the site

interior encourage meetings, conversations and activities involving social justice and civic engagement

night views show the center as a active hub

a model shows the complete, three pointed form

floor plan / level 0

sight line diagram