FRESNO, Calif., Feb. 27. 2020 /PRNewswire/ — National architecture and engineering firm HED, with McCarthy Building Companies, joined Fresno State, a California State University, at the groundbreaking last week for construction of their new Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union.
More than 50 years ago, Fresno State’s existing Student Union was built to serve 10,000 students; since then, enrollment has grown to approximately 25,000. Students were clamoring for additional space to meet, eat, and study. Support for the project was provided through a generous donation by Lynda and Stewart Resnick (philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and owners of The Wonderful Company). For design and construction, Fresno State engaged HED and McCarthy and the team responded with a building that creates a hub of gathering spaces that link to campus pathways and the existing Student Union.
The Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union is sited to enhance campus paths of travel to invite students and visitors into the new center for student life. The large central Town Center has strong indoor/outdoor connections for scheduled and spontaneous events. Inspired by the shapes of the Sierras, the new union will create a strong sense of place. Situated along major campus arteries and offering diverse spaces for collaboration, learning and relaxing, the new union blends elements of the natural environment to create a sense of connection; a place where student life and social activities come together.
HED-designed Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union at Fresno State (PRNewswire/HED)
“The design draws inspiration from the progression of a student’s life on campus, says HED principal Michael Bulander, designer on the project. “The stages go from being new on campus and exploring a wide range of activities to having specific social and academic connections to being fully engaged in student life and student governance activities. The building reflects that in its sequence of spaces.”
The design also reflects the agrarian grid of the valley, opening eastward toward the raw beauty of the Sierras. Interior spaces are interconnected with a grand stair, which serves as seating facing a projection screen for broadcast events. A quarter of the building’s energy load is designed to be offset by energy collected by a solar photovoltaic array; this is one of multiple efficiency and wellness measures at the project. This is just one of the sustainability measures of the project (which is being designed for LEED Gold equivalency).
Pre-cast, insulated, concrete panels will dominate the building exterior, complementing the library and the current Student Union. These panels will be pre-manufactured off-site and installed on-site. The panels provide a finished interior and exterior surface, as well as building insulation. This solution minimizes on-site construction, expediting completion of the project ensuring a high-quality fabricated finish. One quarter of the building load will be offset with photo-voltaic panels. Building entries are accented with metal panels and soffits to ease wayfinding.
Opening of the project is scheduled for fall 2021.
ABOUT HED
HED seeks creative solutions that have a positive impact for its clients, the community, and the world. HED has earned a reputation for excellence in all facets of the designed and built environment, including architecture, consulting, engineering, and planning services. The firm of more than 470 people serves clients in a broad range of markets from eight U.S. offices (Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento). See how HED advances your world at www.hed.design or on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
ABOUT MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is the oldest privately held national construction company in the country – with more than 150 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program that spans all phases of every project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading construction techniques combined with advanced technology to maximize outcomes. McCarthy is 100 percent employee-owned and is repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer. More information is available at www.mccarthy.com or by following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Google+.
