dumontjanks

Slippery Rock University sits in the strong hill and valley country of Western Pennsylvania. The new student center occupies one of the university's high plateaus. The long building form stretches into the adjoining landscape, forming three distinct exterior horizontal terraces: an Entry Terrace, the Waterwall and Parking Court, and the Upper Dining Bosque Roof Terrace Garden.

The entry terrace is the base to the building and unites the various interior ground floor activities. Strong horizontal low walls and a bold informal grove of hawthorn defines and unites the entry, waterwall, and parking court. Near the main entry, the long reflecting pool recirculates rainwater from the roof garden. The adjacent waterwall aerates the rainwater and links the roof garden to the reflecting pool. The upper dining bosque extends the interior dining space, flooring, and furniture, providing exterior dining. A sheltering bosque of tulip poplars provides welcome shade when the weather turns warmer. The roof surfaces are covered with perennial gardens, insulating the building and filtering absorbed rainwater which is then directed to the waterwall and reflecting pool below.