thacher dormitory
Nearby barns and Thacher’s Western ethos inform the aesthetic of this dormitory. The complex is organized as a square courtyard, fostering a sense of community among the students at this boarding school. The site slopes diagonally within the courtyard, and the roof planes descend from one corner down the perimeter of the square. Circulation occurs perpendicularly to this geometry, as people enter and exit through the sides. The dormitory embodies the environmental ethic inherent to the Thacher School’s pedagogy by fostering an indoor / outdoor lifestyle and being a model of sustainability for the academy. In addition to many green elements, the new structure reuses building materials salvaged from its predecessor.
Project Details
Year: 2008Location: Ojai, CA
Typology: education
Program: dormitory with cafeteria
Size: 13,500 sqft
Sustainable Features:
- radiant heating
- long-lasting metal roof
- water collection for irrigation and fire suppression
- solar heated water
- salvaged wood and stone
- non-toxic, natural paint finishes
- natural cooling via cantilevered roof and monitored clerestory window vents
- energy efficient lighting
