Springfield Technical Community College WiFi Lounge

One of the suggestions was to create spaces that students could hang in between classes to study, meet up with their peers and access the internet. In most of the buildings on campus, there were existing open areas within the corridors that could easily be upgraded with new carpeting and furniture. In Building 17 however, there was no existing space that could be transformed into this kind of working space.

The façade of Building 17 faces Armory Square. While adhering to historic guidelines, LDa designed this WiFi Lounge to sit under the building’s overhang. By utilizing some of the existing outdoor space as new usable space for the WiFi Lounge, LDa was able to maintain the consistency of the storefront units and only change the shadow line. The floor to ceiling windows of this addition are virtually unnoticeable from Armory Square.

It is also important to mention that STCC is located on the former Springfield Armory site. A number of buildings on campus are considered historic, along with the green space in the center of campus, Armory Square. Due to the historic nature of this space, any views from the square were subjected to review by the National Park Service and Massachusetts Historical Commission.