NNU Leah Peterson Learning Commons

The Design

Client: Northwest Nazarene University
Location: Nampa, Idaho

Northwest Nazarene University celebrated the completion of one of their largest building projects in the fall of 2014. As for style, the facility marks a different shift in architectural character on the campus to one that is characterized with a western Romanesque vernacular. Open, airy spaces provide ample natural light and views to the campus and set a tone of vibrancy utilizing flexible-use, contemporary furniture to accommodate an array of student needs. The building was designed to house the library’s book and magazine collections, group study rooms, computer workstations, and much more. Academic advising and support services are located in the new building along with the library’s program to centralize student services for reference materials, IT support and academic tutoring.

The building also includes student support and socialization areas with a café and several seminar work spaces. This exciting project involved the complete remodel and re-purposing of the existing 22,000 sq. ft. Riley Library building along with a 35,000 sq. ft. Learning Commons building expansion. The specific challenges to this project involved the transformation of the existing library building into an inviting gateway structure at the northern entrance of the campus. The vision of this unique building project was to equip the university with a technology-rich, flexible learning environment that also serves as a central gateway to the university campus. The building’s strong arched entries on the north and south facades serve as the gateway entrance to the student commons.