Project Summary
Project Summary
A. JUSTIFICATIONS
Regarded as one of America’s oldest African American Cultural Centers located on a college or university campus, the African American Cultural Center celebrated 45 years of existence in 2014 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In early 2015, the unit relocated into a temporary facility due to the less than favorable functioning environment at 708 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, which was well beyond its useful life. Built in 1920 as a residence, the rooms were too small and simply lacked the appropriate space to facilitate community building activities that are at the core of its mission.
Due to deteriorating facilities, unsafe working conditions, and student concerns, the program was moved to a temporary space on the Champaign side of campus (51 East Gregory Drive). Although this location is an improvement from their previous location on Mathews, it has physically and programmatically isolated the occupants from the other centers (Native American, Asian American and La Casa). A site selection process for a new building was completed in January, 2016, as a result the African American Cultural Center will move back to its former location off of Nevada Street, Urbana, so the Centers can be consolidated into one unified neighborhood on campus.
B. OWNER’S PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
The intent of the Program Statement is to provide clear criteria which the program shall achieve for the project to be considered successful. The specific performance requirements are given as a minimum criteria to allow the design team flexibility. The information contained within this baseline document captures the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). The Professional Service Consultant (PSC) shall provide the planning, design, bid/award, and construction phase, and Warranty services for the African American Cultural Center Replacement.
This project is fundamentally tied to the mission and goals of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, specifically as it relates to diversity and inclusion. Because of the program’s rich and vibrant history at the University, this facility, and the spaces within, will be a way to welcome, educated, and engage all people on campus as well as the larger community.
The project will include demolition of the existing structure and constructing a new facility on the current site. This new building will be 3 stories, plus a basement, and similar in volume at 8,200 gross square feet (6,135 net assignable square feet), with an efficiency ratio of 74.8%. The program includes offices and related work areas to properly serve the unit’s core mission, as well as additional program support spaces in the form of a conference room, light commercial kitchen, music/dance studio, computer lab, Multi-purpose room and social gathering space (lounge). Many of the programmed spaces are to receive audio visual amenities and functionally specific furnishings. Site work, landscaping, stormwater management and utility infrastructure will also need to be upgraded and/or added as part of this comprehensive effort.
1. Space Requirements
By providing improved space to meet programming needs, this new capital endeavor will foster the recruitment of new students via the sustainably built state-of-the-art building, integrating higher quality amenities and culturally relevant architectural designs tailored to represent their vision. Analysis of the unit’s existing space indicates the need for better offices to properly serve each core program mission and additional activities support in the form of social gathering space, food preparation and serving amenities, group function areas, staff offices and support space, conference/meeting rooms and computer lab. The following minimum program goals shall be met:
- Enhance the academic experience including both curricular and co-curricular activities that genuinely reflect and represent the multiplicity of communities and cultures locally, nationally and globally.
- Facilitate collaborative student, faculty and staff relationships among departments, other campus academic units and community partners while embracing diversity and the educational mission.
- Produce a culturally relavant architectural design that promotes a welcoming and inclusive environment, while being a safe and personal place to congregate.
a. Office: A space housing one or more faculty, staff, or students equipped with desks, chairs, tables, bookcases, filing cabinets, computer workstations, microcomputers, or other office equipment.
b. Visiting Office: An office used by a visiting scholar.
c. Work Area: A production space, usually equipped with furniture, which supports offices or other meeting spaces and provides informal engagement or break out space of staff or student pursuing their work responsibilities.
d. Entry/Foyer: A “welcome” area for the movement of people or goods within a building with service/reception desk and casual seating provided for the purpose of waiting or transitioning to major and functionally associated spaces adjacent to it.
e. Conference Room/Multimedia Presentation: A room used principally for large student, staff and faculty meetings, but will also function as a presentation room for information that incorporates various digital media output such as text, images, sound, animation, computer graphics and video into an integrated, multi-sensory exhibit.
f. Lounge: A publicly available, general use space expected to be used for rest, relaxation or informal socializing that is not restricted to a specific group of people, task or area, and typically equipped with upholstered furniture and carpeting.
g. Kitchen: A moderate commercial cookery room in which food is prepared that supports the multipurpose room. Dedicated to food production including preparation, cooking and beverage distribution. Includes, but not limited to, sinks, oven/range, coffee makers, microwaves, and refrigerator. This space will need to be reviewed by the Campus Code Compliance Officer, and be in compliance with Campaign Urbana Public Health District guidelines.
h. Multi-purpose Room: A larger, relatively unobstructed area whose set up can be changed readily (movable seating, collapsible tables, furniture reconfiguration and associated storage) and used for multiple activities e.g. group meetings, seminars, functions, exhibitions/displays, forums, adaptable social spaces. Also includes a queuing and serving area off of the kitchen where food is set up for display and acquisition. A storage area with ample volume shall be positioned proximal to this room for stock furniture used at flexible events.
i. Music/Dance Studio: A room used by students, staff or the public for recreational purposes or practical work including casual exercise, dancing, music listening/producing, drama practice, active hobbies, etc.