City College San Francisco STEAM Building

City College of San Franciso's STEAM Building is one of the first higher-education institutions in the nation to combine interdisciplinary arts and sciences instruction under one roof with biology, anatomy and chemistry collocated with drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, metal arts and printmaking. In addition to balancing constraints related to the pandemic and significant budget reductions, the team also faced the challenge of fitting all programs and spaces within the site’s compact footprint.

The building brings to the forefront the dualities of “the art of the sciences” and “the science of the arts”, with spaces where an intersection of programs and students can mix and percolate, while learning in collaboration. The solution features a simple rectilinear structure resembling a toolbox with “drawers” pulled out on lower level. These extensions house shared ceramic and sculpture studios, general classrooms, art gallery, and the Innovation Center - a versatile shared living room for STEAM students. Full height glazing activates spaces opening onto a plaza shared with the future Diego Rivera Theater, another element of CCSF’s growing STEAM complex. 

The second level features a mix of science labs and art studios flanking a generous corridor. The circulation zone becomes both a canvas and a collaborative space for student belonging, where they can experiment, interact, and draw inspiration from people and projects around them. Nearby, art and science faculty merge in office neighborhoods to foster a sense of community while encouraging faculty/student engagement and mentorship.

The spectrum of color is a grounding element throughout the interior and serves as the foundation for the connectedness of the arts and sciences. Spanning four floors, a feature wall of vibrant color striations - inspired by the study of the light spectrum along with the pigment colors of Diego Rivera’s original mural, Pan American Unity that will reside at the new Diego Rivera Theater lobby. The walls of each level feature a distinct color of either orange, yellow or blue to indicate the curriculum, support wayfinding, highlight student resource spaces, and restrooms.

On the exterior, orchestrated patterns of flat and saw-toothed prefabricated glass fiber reinforced concrete panels create visual interest through texture, as the science of changing solar positions cast artistic shadows that transform throughout the day and time of year. The vertical orientation of the windows minimizes glare and heat gain in classrooms while maximizing access to daylight and views. This feature promotes wellbeing and optimizes learning outcomes with a sense of belonging, orientation, and focus.