Central Heating and Refrigeration Plant Improvements, University of Arizona

GLHN is the Architect and Engineer of Record for improvements to the Central Heating and Refrigeration Plant (CHRP) on the University of Arizona main campus in Tucson. The plant is located in an area of the campus occupied by residence halls and recreational open space, making the primary design challenge that of integrating infrastructure into a residential and academic surrounding. GLHN's approach is to celebrate the plant's presence rather than attempt to make it invisible. The architecture is creatively designed to allow passers-by audio and visual peaks at the cooling towers and other mechanical functions while at the same time discretely blend the plant into its contextural surroundings by adopting the building materials, colors, and textures of the residence halls. With the addition of creative lighting techniques, the plant itself becomes an object of public art.