Observatory

This observatory needed to be built on a dark site, for minimal light pollution, and with unobstructed views to the night sky. The chosen site is on the crest of a hill in a field at the edge of the campus.

The observatory has one large classroom and a spiral staircase leading up to the telescope and rotating dome. Red lights are provided for night work, and the resilient tile floor pattern recalls shooting stars. There is a mechanical room below the tower. Clerestory windows provide light to the classroom while preserving wall space. Simple forms are used to express the building's function.