Hillel Student Center
University of Arizona Campus
The existing Hillel Student Center at the University of Arizona building was constructed in 1984 at the corner of Mountain Avenue and Second Street, at the heart of the UA campus. Designed by renowned Tucson architect Les Wallach FAIA, it is in its third decade of providing a welcoming, pluralistic and inclusive environment for Jewish college students, where all are encouraged to grow intellectually, spiritually and socially. The UA Hillel building is open to students who want to study or socialize with friends, use facility computers, participate in Hillel functions, eat at the café or simply “hang out”. Students and the general public also attend Shabbat services, held here every other Friday evening (depending on the calendar) and on high holidays when school is in session.
With student population growing, the existing building could no longer fulfill Hillel’s commitment to its students. The University of Arizona Hillel Foundation proposed a new addition to provide state of the art classroom and meeting space, and renovations to the existing facility to enhance study, café and leisure space and provide more room for public worship and cultural activities.
Consistent with Hillel’s desire to preserve, intact, its existing building, CDG Architects proposed a 5,000 SF addition elevated above the existing parking lot. The simple, plain façade of the new addition offers an effective contrasting background solution that acknowledges the presence of the distinctive Wallach structure, leaving the iconic original structure visibly unchanged.
The addition is connected to the existing building by a new elevator. The elevated solution allows light and air to flow freely into the existing building, maintaining its intended connection to the outdoors. Existing mature trees were preserved on site, leaving a verdant shaded sidewalk for pedestrians. The raised building solution also allows the shaded parking area below to be used on a seasonal basis for outdoor activities, increasing the functionality of the entire site.
Improvements and new construction required minimal demolition on the site; the intention of the design was to minimize environmental impacts during construction and to substantially re-use as much of the existing building as possible. The renovations included renovations to study and staff spaces as well as relocation of the existing kitchen and café from the ground level to the lower level, with a larger seating area and outdoor dining provided.
