College of Marin – Building 11

Breathing New Life into Building 11

Creating maximum impact on a limited budget was the design plan for the College of Marin’s Indian Valley campus.

Unoccupied for several years, Building 11, built in the 1970’s, was in need of repair and suffered from previous interventions that left some of the building’s best features hidden above a dropped acoustic ceiling, and behind tinted windows.

Over time, Building 11 was broken up into small rooms with interior drywall and the original beamed ceiling was covered with acoustic tile and florescent tube lights.

The project team worked with the college to create a warm, light-filled space for their human resources and administrative functions. The design makes most of the existing natural wood ceiling with an added skylight. The wood was revived with an abrasion technique that uses crushed walnut hulls.

All the windows were replaced, and additional window openings were added to accommodate a new office configuration designed around a central gathering place below the new skylight.

The project included structural improvements, accessibility and path of travel upgrades, new bathrooms, new mechanical, lighting, fire alarm and fire protection systems. In addition to new windows, the exterior also received a fresh coat of paint and upgraded sunshades.

Offices line the building perimeter, each with a view to the outdoors and glass interior walls to connect individuals to shared space and maximize natural light.