The Holyoke Community College Campus Center, once a dated brutalist structure, has been transformed into a vibrant, LEED Silver-rated space. The redesign addressed water issues by recladding the exterior and expanding the building’s footprint, enclosing sloping forms and balconies. A new footbridge spans a rehabilitated stream, providing a fresh campus entrance and connecting visitors to the dynamic hillside campus.

Led by Project Architect Damon Sidel while working at HKT Architects (2016 - 2017), the renovation balanced complex user needs and rigorous envelope engineering with Massachusetts public bidding requirements as overseen by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). The rewarding collaborative approach resulted in a revitalized space featuring warm wood screens, solar shading, acoustic baffles, and striking lighting design that enhances both function and aesthetics.