Eschewing the big, bold statement to make the building more important than the art it houses, The Lamar Dodd School of Art is the quiet companion to the Art Student at the University of Georgia’s Performing and Visual Arts Plaza. While the formal West facing Brick façade addresses the campus Physical Master Plan requirements and provides a ceremonial “front door”, the building is essentially a restrained composition of exposed concrete with clear anodized aluminum curtainwall providing a recessive palette that receives and reinforces the layers of art applied by both student and faculty.

Sustainable Design and Conservations Principles were logically aligned with Art-Making processes and a tight construction budget:

The University embarked on an innovative storm water management program to accommodate the artful conveyance of water including rain gardens and runnels to eliminate the need for extensive underground piping. The fundamental diagram optimizes North/South exposures to maximize daylighting opportunities in faculty studios and instructional spaces. South-facing Solar Control Devices include both sunshades and light shelves for daylight harvesting opportunities. Mechanical Systems include Energy Recovery Units with a four-year payback period to capture and reuse the extensive exhaust air required for art making processes. Occupancy Sensors control lighting systems. 30,000 sf of ceiling materials were eliminated by floating ceiling clouds only where required for light reflectance and sound absorption. Carpet was only used in auditoriums were acoustical treatment was required. The remaining building is sealed concrete, a simple flooring material suitable for the rigors of an art program. Cabinets are simple stained medium density fiberboard without laminate providing a rugged, durable product for the life of the building.

The building in its role as Art Student Companion serves as both canvas and toolkit:

Curtainwall façade is distilled down to only those components necessary for interior art-making functions. The simple curtainwall module inserted between the concrete bays accommodates inevitable change in a functionally specific building planned for a 75 year life. Panels can be reglazed to provide transparent, translucent, or opaque façade conditions and combinations responding to changing interior functional requirements. The University’s Physical Plant Department has a pre-determined kit-of-parts solution to adapt to ever-changing academic needs. Guardrails include a pattern of 9/16” holes spaces on vertical posts allowing the student/ faculty to use these prominently located rails as a display support grid. Unistrut Building Systems Supports in the Corridor provide 9/16” x 2 ½” slots encouraging student/faculty to consider installation opportunities and light augmentation. Outlets are strategically located in the Unistrut to accommodate multiple functions and data cabling is nearby.

Tony Menefee, AIA, LEED® AP
Principal

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