RATCLIFF renovated a vocational educational space (formerly a welding shop), into a multi-use technology center serving as a general-purpose multimedia teaching laboratory for the Laney College campus. Located on the ground floor, the newly renovated space offers state-of-the-art technology, serves as a model of current trends in CIS technology and provides a new entry sequence and prominent new identity for the building.

Developed in collaboration with local community business and educational leaders, the Center was designed to meet the varied needs of the diverse communities that the College serves and includes two 24-station laboratory classrooms, two 42-station specialized multimedia labs, offices and conference room all organized around a secure central control room/hub in an architecturally innovative and ergonomically engineered setting. The underside of the original welding shop offered an expansive atmosphere and allowed for the reflection of light from the suspended up-lighting. The perforated metal screen ceiling is shaped to reflect the concentric layout of training tables and creates a more intimate environment with the illusion of a lower ceiling.

The judicious application of materials establishes a distinctive and lean aesthetic while also creating a feeling of openness that invites daylight and quality air flow. Oriented strand board is creatively applied and provides balance within the space, offering both hard surfaces and an organic texture from the natural world. This minimal approach toward finishing the space reflects our environmental philosophy to use only what is needed.