INVISION worked with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) on their new Industrial Technologies building to meet the needs of an increasing student population interested in industrial trades. As the result of master planning efforts, this building was the first step in the realization of a new campus vision for NICC.
INVISION and NICC talked about the building having a “dirty” side and a “clean” side, separating the campus pedestrian environment from the vehicular services and outdoor space. To facilitate this separation, INVISION designed the project to be built into in a hillside. The lower level “dirty” side of the new facility houses a 12-bay automotive shop and a six-bay diesel lab capable of accepting full-length tractor-trailers. The building also features:
- Electronics Lab
- CNC Machining Lab
- Welding Lab
- Heating and Cooling Mechanical System Lab
The “clean” student lounge, staff offices, and classrooms overlook an Outdoor Learning Lab. The building’s design featured distinctive lighting combined with translucent materials, creating a glowing-lantern effect in the evening. INVISION’s design mixed industrial materials and exposed structure with careful detailing that serves as a teaching tool for students.
