Chemeketa Health Sciences Complex Addition: Salem, OR

Challenging Conventional

Taking a chance on an unconventional design reaped dividends for Chemeketa Community College. The result is a sustainable building that uses 60% less energy than code and costs no more than conventional construction. The integrated design process, which involved six weeks of modeling, produced a building without mechanical air conditioning that largely relies on passive strategies for cooling and lighting. The 72,000 ft² addition allows the Salem, Ore., college to carry out its mission of caring for the community by training much-needed health professionals and through a free dental clinic for children.