Sited on a natural, gently rolling grassy field that descends into a ravine river way, the new 625 seat, 46,000 SF Western Dining Commons meets the needs for additional campus dining on the Western Campus, while providing five distinct dining experiences each delineated by the natural stepping of the building. The building is strategically sited at the nexus of the new student housing district on Western Campus and along a new walkway that forms the backbone of travel across the area, further connecting both campuses.
The unique multi-level dining experience celebrates the natural landscape with large open vistas, connecting diners to the outside by incorporating the views, exploring tall dramatic space. Diverse comfortable seating fills these spaces, with expansive natural light and a fireplace at the south end. Outdoor terraces provide comfortable engaging dining and working hub, furthering the indoor outdoor relationship.
The building’s parti is a series of gently stepped pavilions terracing down the natural landscape, each linked by taller, glass clerestory monitors which bring natural light deep into the building. Each pavilion houses a distinct culinary venue which flow together into one unified space. The geometry of the pavilions and monitors contrast against the undulating landscape and trees. Tall expanses of curtain wall evoke the rhythm of trees and provide vistas to connect to the outside.
The building responds to the natural repose of the land and incorporates landscape features that celebrate site topography and water management. Limestone interior walls extend out to the landscape and transform into low walls stepping down the hillside, becoming as a series of check dams to regulate stormwater run-off and control site erosion and flooding. The LEED Silver building has a green roof which helps control rainwater, while the light monitors help reduce reliance upon artificial lighting. The new streambed creates a natural feature that mitigates site erosion and focuses drainage to an existing stream at the lower edge of the site.
Institutional architecture strives to instill quality, durability, and longevity with natural materials and crafted details. Indiana limestone, prevalent on campus, is interpreted in a pattern enhancing the building’s horizontally and grounding the hall to its natural setting. Vertically composed dark curtain wall mullions, structural elements, and Vermont slate contrast starkly against the limestone to create depth, layering, and complexity. During the day, glazed expanses reflect the trees and sky, and transform during the evening, providing views into the pavilions’ warm lantern-like glow. Inside, terrazzo flooring, earth-toned tiles, metals, wood, and green hues evoke natural materials to create an inviting, serene dining venue.
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