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Common room, tall ceiling with wood beams accents, round pendant lights, stone fireplace in higher education setting, floor to ceiling windows
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Renovations Complete at Catawba College鈥檚 Center for the Environment

(Salisbury, N.C., November 8, 2023) 鈥 At Catawba College, home of the first certified net-zero campus in the Southeast and only the seventh in the United States, the Center for the Environment features the Environmental Studies Department鈥檚 hands-on research laboratory. Built more than 25 years ago, the building needed major systems and aesthetics revitalization. Centered around the concept of 鈥渂ringing the outside in,鈥 91视频鈥檚 design for the renovation breaks down visual barriers that previously limited site lines to the exterior as well as natural daylighting. This beautiful renovation project was complete with an open house, tour, and tree planting ceremony on September 21.

Students working on laptops in a hallway with windows, brown floors, and lots of natural lighting
The Center for the Environment at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. Photo by Tim Buchman.

Located on West Innes St. in the heart of Catawba鈥檚 central campus, this 20,500-SF facility sits adjacent to the campus鈥 189-acre nature preserve. The design re-uses a 100-year-old oak tree for real wood elements in the furniture and finished details to unite the exterior and interior wood tones and create a common language. An interior color palette of warm neutrals with accents of blues and greens, gradation, and biophilic patterns complements the surrounding nature. Functionally, the design solution also prioritizes adaptability through the implementation of demountable partitions in areas that are likely to be reconfigured in the future as well as moveable and stackable furniture.

The scope included fixing the existing stormwater system, adding ADA parking, and renewing building systems with a geothermal HVAC system and new lighting. The design updates the building envelope with new insulation, weather barrier, and roof while reusing the existing cedar siding. On the interior, casework was reused and new ADA sections were provided; new sustainable ceilings were installed; and existing carpet and ceiling tile were salvaged and palletized for recycling.

The sustainable and healthy design principles implemented at CENV led to the establishment of Catawba College鈥檚 Interior Standards, which 91视频 created to include red list free, sustainable, responsibly sourced, and durable materials and furniture to be implemented across campus in upcoming renovations.

91视频 provided architecture, interiors, structural engineering, audiovisual design, lighting design, telecom & security, and experiential graphic design.

91视频 Senior Principal and Brand Communications Manager andy ernsting
For media queries, please contact: Andy Ernsting, Brand Communications Leader

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