Colorado College is a small liberal arts college located on the north side of Colorado Springs.  The college has enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence and some notoriety for its unique ‘Block Plan; a creative alternate to the typical semester or quarter system.  The current Tutt Library, built by Skidmore Owings and Merrell in 1961, no longer adequately serves the college and its diversity of needs, or represents the college philosophically.  The existing Tutt Library occupies the northwest end of Armstrong quad, the central green space of the campus.  The facility is designed to tie into the network of paths both existing and planned that extend to all parts of campus, helping to make it a destination for the campus community.  Combined, the existing Tutt Library and addition will total nearly 100,000sf. 

Programmatically, the project brings together multiple departments and functions together under one roof.Various group study rooms, meeting rooms, and a café are incorporated into the facility. A new courtyard opens to the main quad and creates a new library entry and social/ event space for the campus.The addition is clad in a precast lightweight cement panel system in a custom pattern, in a manner intended to complement the existing building.Extensive glazing creates an open and transparent facility, in contrast to the introverted style of the existing structure.Like a ‘ribbon’, the design of the new addition weaves up, around, and over the existing SOM building, and evokes the path of the student through their academic journey through the college.Consistent with the campus ethos, outdoor space is incorporated at every level of the new project, culminating in the 4th level deck with a view oriented to Pikes Peak.