ACCD Northwest Vista College

The New Campus Master Plan for Northwest Vista College in San Antonio demonstrates creativity and practical solutions. Alamo Architects' primary goal for the new plan, which was completed in February 2005, was to make the campus a place of learning and enlightenment, as well as a distinctive community landmark.

Northwest Vista College, a 137-acre campus originally established in 1995 to accommodate 3,300 students, has today grown to support an enrollment of more than 10,000. In developing the new Master Plan for the rapidly-growing campus, Alamo Architects brought a range of design experience with community colleges, a historical perspective of this particular campus, and continuity of the planning process that was required to bring the new plan to life. During 2004 and 2005, Alamo Architects facilitated a series of planning meetings with Northwest Vista College students, staff, and faculty to participate in the development of the New Campus Master Plan. Initial brainstorming sessions to determine campus needs, evolved into a series of plans for consideration. The best elements of each was incorporated into the final plan.

Among the guiding principles established for the New Campus Master Plan, several elements were prioritized and realized:

• Preservation and celebration of the native landscape.
• Development of a more natural connection between the buildings and the landscape.
• Creation of a campus with the characteristics of a university and the convenience of a community college.
• Establishment of clear concepts for overall circulation and parking.
• Activation of public areas to promote greater interaction and collaboration.
• Softening of the formal structure of the campus.
• More color and diversity in the architectural palette.
• Ability to accommodate change, growth, and evolution of the college.
• Creation of the college as a Community Landmark.

Embodying these principles today is a dynamic new campus with six new buildings, additional parking areas, and a dramatic new lake at the campus core. The new buildings by Alamo Architects include the Palmetto Fine & Performing Arts Center, the Redbud Library and Learning Resources building, and the Juniper Academic Hall

Client> Alamo Community College District
Construction Cost> $80 million
Projected Completion> May 2009