Andrew Abbey

Brian Carter

ARC 503
Fall 2019

MArch

Promenade was developed to house the University at Buffalo Special Collections and its various subsets. Situated on the University’s South Campus, the project aims to become a symbol of the institution itself.

Abbey chose a central location along a densely traversed, historic pathway. Given the constraint of the pathway, the northern and southern sides of the site presented two different conditions. The north side creates a ‘formal’ quad bounded by Promenade, Hayes Hall, and a proposed future building. The form of the building was further shaped by placing the entire collection on this side, stacked on four levels. 

The south side, which faces Clark Hall, creates a larger quad. A grid of American Elm trees would be planted to increase the aesthetic qualities of the campus and to correspond with the UB Green Initiative. The design was influenced by this decision, with the southern facade stepping backwards with each subsequent level. These terraces are further punctuated by courtyards. Levels 1, 2, and 4 are fitted with intensive green roofs, and the exterior space on Level 3 is occupiable at certain points along the southern facade. The introduction of green space works to bring the landscape up onto the building itself.

The program organization helped to dictate the overall form as well. The main private space holds the collection itself. Special Collections divides its holdings into University Archives, Rare Books Collections, History of Medicine, and the Poetry Collection. In order to accommodate the unique temperature conditions of the various archival objects, the collection is split into three bays, each having different temperature zones.

The seam between the collection and the public programming is the promenade itself; a large corridor extending to the south from the main lobby. The lobby space gives lead to a gallery and exhibition space to the north and a cafe to the south. As the promenade rises up to the second floor, it’s interrupted by a series of terraces that feature study spaces and seating areas.