Location: 
Oswego, New York 
Total Square Feet: 37,500 
Construction Period: Jan 2005 to Dec 2005

CONSTRUCTION TEAM
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: St. Germain & Aupperle Consulting Engineers - 6000 W. Genesee Street, Camillus, NY 13031
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Sarkisian Brothers - P. O. Box 1925, Binghamton, NY 13902
MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Sack & Associates - 721 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13210
COST ESTIMATOR: Ashley McGraw Architects - 500 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202

The rehabilitation of Poucher Hall, a 37,500-square-foot three-story, former elementary school was part of State University of New York College at Oswego’s comprehensive master plan. The basic concept is an “Academic Commons” for the Humanities, emphasizing accessibility and openness to learning. 

The campus is located at the Eastern end of Lake Ontario and is subject to a range of extreme weather conditions. Poucher Hall is located on the primary circulation spine through the campus. Designers recognized the necessity to provide shelter for pedestrians going to and from destinations during the severe winter. 

A "Main Street" provides easy student access to faculty and student services. Abundant daylight has been brought to the center of all building levels due to transparency between the central area and the perimeter rooms. The interiors provide places and furnishings with wireless Internet access where students can meet other students and faculty in both planned and casual encounters. 

The inclusion of Disabled Student Services and the Office of Learning Support provide an important nexus of resources. 

The exterior of the school required minimal construction, however, entire interiors were demolished, (including all mechanical systems) and were replaced with a variety of transparent, translucent and solid partitions. In the effort to add height, most of the spaces have exposed pipes and ducts with suspended "Clouds" which define visual horizontal planes. 

Detailing, dimensions and colors were carefully designed, enhancing the sense that something different and important was happening throughout. Oval common spaces emphasize that the college goes beyond the ordinary to recognize the individuality of the users. 

The educational and socialization goals of the project included faculty and student "Paths that Cross", providing informal settings to promote collaborative learning; multi-use venues along an academic commons that unifies the campus; access, beauty, flexibility and performance; and supportive multi-media teaching technologies were all accomplished in this project. 

MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS
DIV 08: Entrances & Storefronts, Windows: EFCO Corporation; Glass Block: PPG.
DIV 09: Carpet: Interface; Porcelain Tile: Crossville; Linoleum: Forbo.