Hudson County Community College turned to RSC Architects to design their new North Hudson Higher Education Center, a 92,350 s.f., seven-story building that houses classrooms, an administrative area, a student commons, a media center, science laboratories, a campus store, a fitness center, and outdoor green space.
The goal of this project was to provide a new branch campus for Hudson County Community College that would be designed as a self-sufficient, LEED-certified, free-standing building offering convenient access to public transportation for students without a car, which the RSC team achieved.
A soaring three-story lobby welcomes students and visitors into the building, and an outdoor courtyard provides a quiet space away from the public. Other exterior features include a six-story curved curtain wall system and a one-hundred-foot-tall clock tower.
Our unique design also incorporates sustainable elements, including a photovoltaic rooftop system; rainwater harvesting tanks; daylight and occupancy sensors; recycled materials; low-flow fixtures; and high-efficiency mechanical equipment, such as interior light shelves that help to reflect natural light deeper into the facility’s instructional spaces.
A glass-enclosed pedestrian bridge spans across NJ TRANSIT’s bus lanes and connects the building with the neighboring bus station via a new stair tower with an elevator. This bridge allows the students and the visitors who are arriving by mass transit easy access to the center. One flight below, students can also access the Hudson-Bergen light rail system.
