Targetti Illuminates Collin College Technical Campus
Recognizing the increasing demand for robust technical education, trade programs, and workforce training, Collin College in Allen, Texas, recently expanded to include a Technical Campus illuminated with the help of Targetti USA‘s JEDI RECESSED linear ingrate luminaires. The campus is comprised of four new buildings featuring 151,000 square feet of academic space, 177,646 square feet of technical training areas, 42,000 square feet for Allen Independent School District (ISD) shared space, and 23,700 square feet for meeting and conference rooms.
Situated in the fastest-growing county in North Texas, the new Technical Campus offers programs related to automotive, construction, electronics, HVAC, healthcare, welding, and other trades.
According to the architectural team on the project, Perkins & Will, Collin College teamed up with Allen ISD and other surrounding school districts to provide the highest level of dual credit offerings for local high school students in the area. The new cantilevered facility will serve up to 7,000 students and will be a model for trades and technical career instruction in the industry. McCarthy Building Companies served as the general contractor.
What makes the project particularly noteworthy is its thoughtful design to serve people of various ages, skill levels, interests, and backgrounds. The interiors of each of the four buildings provide ample daylight, with additional diffused daylighting techniques employed throughout, the architects noted. Courtyards support the social life of the college and create opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration as well as provide a thread of connectedness throughout the campus.
The overall design implements a low-site impact methodology where the design of the buildings fits around the contours of the existing 32-acre site and integrates into the forested greenbelt area to the north. The best demonstration of the contouring to the existing site is witnessed by the central circulation areas between Levels 00 and 01 through a “green” space complete with open air breezeways and rainwater collection swales. This project also embraces renewable resources, as it has not only a solar PV system for electrical offset but also a solar hot water system, condensate reclaim system, rainwater harvesting, and daylight harvesting for utility usage.
Another unique attribute employed by the Perkins & Will team, is the use of several colors – blue, yellow, green, and orange – to create “collaboration nodes” along the academic corridor. According to the firm, the colors emphasize the connection with the different trades while aiding wayfinding.
Lighting manufacturer Targetti USA’s JEDI RECESSED linear ingrate luminaires provide the ideal solution to illuminate the underside of the large exterior cantilever. The linear projectors were strategically spaced in a row following the outline of the cantilever. This effect enables the fixtures to project light onto the surface above creating an ethereal effect of light within the space.
The JEDI fixtures’ powerful output and optics illuminate large architectural surfaces such as the alcove of the main building. The fixture is available in three lengths, performances, and numerous optical effects and is available in both projector and recessed versions. According to the manufacturer, JEDI is an essentially indestructible, high-performance linear outdoor fixture that has the ability to blend in easily within the architecture. It has proven itself to be an indispensable tool for lighting large surfaces.
The project has received design awards from AIA Dallas as well as the Texas Society of Architects and the Texas Association of School Administrators
PROJECT DETAILS
Architect: Perkins & Will – Dallas
General Contractor: McCarthy Building Companies
Photography: © Ruehle Photography | © Collin College; Nick Young, Photographer
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