west point builds a commanding new library and learning

PRESS CONTACTS:
STV
Jill Bonamusa, 212.614.3354
[email protected]
Holzman Moss Architecture
Cecilia Bonn, 212.734.9754
[email protected]
WEST POINT BUILDS A COMMANDING NEW LIBRARY
AND LEARNING CENTER FOR THE INFORMATION AGE
(Jefferson Hall is the First New Academic Building on Campus in over 35 Years)
New York, NY –- August 1, 2008 – Beginning September 2008, West Point, the nation's
oldest service academy, will have a state-of-the-art new library and learning center on the
United States Military Academy’s fabled Hudson Valley campus, a National Historic Site. The
$62-million, 141,000-square-foot building, Jefferson Hall-USMA Library and Learning Center,
was planned and designed by STV in collaboration with Holzman Moss Architecture for the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Building on its more than 200-year tradition of excellence in education and military
training, West Point’s leaders recognized a decade ago that a new library facility in the form
of an interactive learning center was necessary to meet the growing educational needs of its
over 4,400 cadets plus faculty.
“Cadet education in the 21st century must develop officers who respect the past but
are open to the future, who as Army leaders can anticipate and respond effectively to a
dynamic and uncertain world,” said retired Brigadier General George B. Forsythe, former
Professor and Vice Dean for Education. “As a result, West Point’s new library and learning
center is grounded architecturally and symbolically to its historic surroundings, yet also
envisioned to provide new gateways for the pursuit of knowledge.”
A New Learning Platform for Cadets
Jefferson Hall provides for a highly responsive learning “platform” for future growth,
by bringing together the Cadet Library, the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Center for
Enhanced Performance.
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The CTE provides faculty instructional spaces that are at the forefront of new
academic learning styles, while the CEP seeks to assist cadets with improved learning
techniques and problem solving methods.
Interactive learning centers, group study, technology-rich classrooms, and 900
individual study spaces will emphasize the integration of a variety of teaching and learning
tools and foster student–faculty interaction. The library will also serve as a repository for
more than one-million books and other materials.
Changing the Appearance of the Campus
“We sited the new building at the southeast corner of the historic West Point Plain to
give it due prominence as a facility dedicated to nurturing intellect; it is the first new
academic building in the central area since 1972,” said Price Jepsen, AIA, STV project
manager, who was responsible for selecting the building site, strategic planning, and
programming. “Its program reflects a changing learning environment, from a repository of
books to a place where new, interactive instructional methods can be developed and the
value of life-long education expressed.”
“Because the Plain is a significant part of this National Historic Landmark District, any
building erected on it automatically qualifies for a “statement of adverse effect” from the
New York State Historic Preservation Office,” said Malcolm Holzman, FAIA, of Holzman Moss
Architecture, who was responsible for the building’s design. “Designing a facility that reflects
the spirit and values of the 21s-century Army and still honors the academy’s architectural
virtues was imperative.”
Bringing Military Gothic Into the 21stCentury
Divided into three masses with step-backs echoing the form of surrounding structures,
the six-story granite and glass building advances West Point’s, 19th-century Military Gothic
style into the 21stcentury. 1,586 tons of granite clad the entire building. Hand-tooled stone
block mined from the same quarry as adjacent structures clad the two end towers, and design
details such as sandstone window surround, a three-dimensional West Point arch at the main
entry, and double-height windows echo similar features found in neighboring buildings
designed by Bertram Goodhue, Ralph Adam Cram, and Paul Cret.
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214 West 29th Street Tower, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10001
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In keeping with West Point tradition, Jefferson Hall’s two end towers are composed of granite
blocks -- a rusticated, rugged material found on many other academy buildings. Centered
between the towers is a full-height curtain wall comprised of blast-resistant glass and precast
concrete mullions, which frames unparalleled views of the campus, bluff, and river beyond.
Additional design elements include amber-colored glass brick to filter light into an archival
area partially below grade, and exposed structural clay tile walls to bring warmth to the entry
lobby and collection areas. Enclosed spaces including collections, individual reading areas,
and library support spaces located within the towers are offset by panoramic vistas of “the
Plain” and the Hudson River farther afield, while expansive windows found throughout public
reading areas, study areas, and meeting rooms in the glazed core make library activities
visible from various vantage points on campus.
The building has achieved a bronze rating under the Army’s SPiRiT program – the
equivalent of a LEED certified, green-design rating.
STV is a national leader in the planning and design of buildings and transportation
systems. The employee-owned firm provides full service architectural, engineering, planning,
interior design and construction management. The firm strives to provide contextual
architectural and engineering design excellence, quality of documentation, environmentally
responsible designs and technically advanced solutions. STV’s designs focus on enriching the
human experience. Founded in 1912 in New York City, the firm has grown to 1,500
employees, and is one of the premier consulting firms in the country. For more information,
see STV's web site at www.stvinc.com.
Holzman Moss Architecture is a national architectural, interior design, and planning
firm specializing in the design of evocative cultural, civic, and academic buildings that
welcome public use. The firm achieves architectural excellence through environmentally
responsible and technically innovative solutions that focus on enriching the human
experience. Engaging clients in a process of visualization, dialogue, and inquiry,
Holzman Moss Architecture projects surpass aspirations by responding to the needs of each
institution and by celebrating the identity of the community it serves.
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214 West 29th Street Tower, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10001
T: 212.465.0808 F: 212.465.2226 www.holzmanmoss.com
Jefferson Hall-USMA Library and Learning Center
FACT SHEET
Location:
United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA), NY
Client:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
Architects:
STV, Architect-of-Record and Engineer
Holzman Moss Architecture, Design Architect
Cost
$62 million
Size:
141,000 sq. ft.
Timeline:
2000-01
Site Selection, Feasibility Study, Program, Preliminary Concept
A comprehensive study and programming phase included an extensive site
selection process during which 19 potential sites were reviewed.
Responsibility: STV
2002-04
Concept Design, Guiding Principles, Architectural and Interior Design
The building sits on the edge of West Point’s 70-acre parade ground, a level
training field and athletic space known as the “Plain.” A national historical
landmark revered since its creation in 1778, building on the Plain required
careful consultation with the New York State Historical Preservation Office. In
order to secure their approval, the design of the six-story building
demonstrated respect for the past while realizing the Academy’s vision of the
future.
Architecture: STV
Architectural and Interior Design: Holzman Moss Architecture
2002-04
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Structural and Civil Engineering
Responsibility: STV
2005
Bidding
Primary responsibility: STV
2005-08
Construction
Primary responsibility: STV
2008
Move in (July 2008) and Dedication (September 24, 2008)
Noteworthy Design Elements:
214 West 29th Street Tower, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10001
T: 212.465.0808 F: 212.465.2226 www.holzmanmoss.com
Towers
East and West granite-clad towers step back as they rise to modulate their
scale, accentuate their verticality, and harmonize with adjoining Gothic-style
structures.
To match the stone used in the adjoining Eisenhower Barracks, a section of the
Fletcher Granite Quarry was reopened.
Arches
The campus’s fabled West Point Arch, found in adjacent buildings, served as
inspiration for details at the building’s main entry and largest window
openings.
Two vertical arch forms span 25 feet across the main entranceway projecting
both the history and future of the academy. Specially-formed concrete
columns, arches, and bay windows strike a balance between the traditional and
the modern.
Interiors
The interior color palette was chosen to complement the uniform of the Corps
of Cadets, as was the representation of stripes and chevrons in fixtures and
finishes. Graphic abstractions of military medals, seals and inscriptions
enliven carpeting, light fixtures, and terrazzo floors.
The central rotunda, with its grand staircase, also features the West Point crest
embedded in terrazzo and in a bronze sculpture of Thomas Jefferson.
On the building’s topmost floor, the Alexander Haig Room is a special space
intended for receptions, events, lectures, and multi-media presentations in
addition to serving as group study and academic learning space. Hung from its
cherry veneer core will be historical West Point portraits. On the perimeter
stone piers, spaced along the glazed facade, are wood display cases for
important West Point artifacts. From its outdoor terrace, patrons are treated
to spectacular views.
In the tradition of notable West Point interior spaces, such as those found in
Washington Hall and Grant Hall, the Alexander Haig Room boasts stenciled
ceilings with painted insignias and decorative details.
Carvings
Carved details can be found at various entry points to the building. The main,
limestone sally port includes the inscription of two seals on either side. Two
others are carved in granite at the building’s side entries.
214 West 29th Street Tower, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10001
T: 212.465.0808 F: 212.465.2226 www.holzmanmoss.com