The Milwaukee Job Corps Center, a $28,000,000 project for the US Department of Labor, creates a campus of 8 new buildings on 25 acres of land on the northwest side of Milwaukee. This one of a 120 such centers in the US and will house up to 300 students in a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week learning environment. The students live here year-around while learning life skills, a GED and professional or skills in a trade. The design goal of the Job Corps Center is to create a community of learning that can engage and motivate the students that inhabit the campus. With the creation of a dense, internally focused campus, the design creates many places of gathering for the students to interact both formally and informally that will promote the formation of community of people from diverse backgrounds. The project utilized integrated design practices and incorporates many sustainable design features, including the following:
30% more energy efficient.
20% more efficient in its use of water.
Incorporates natural daylight to light into all occupied spaces.
Incorporates rain gardens and storm water retention ponds to minimize the storm water runoff.
Uses native, low maintenance landscape.