Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC), ranked as one of the top community colleges in the nation for student success, invested $17.5 million to increase access to education and workforce training opportunities in Saratoga County and beyond.
Troy-based architectural firm Mosaic Associates, known for its focus on designing workforce development and science facilities, partnered with the college to expand the HVCC North Extension Center located in the Saratoga Technology and Energy Park (STEP) in Malta, N.Y.
The keystone of the expansion is the new STEM Education Center, a two-story, 14,500-square-foot facility that allows the college to broaden access for students in highly specialized and growing fields in healthcare, STEM, and skilled trades.
Designing for Flexibility: Adapting to Future Needs
A key challenge was designing a space that could evolve with the changing needs of students and industry.
The new facility, which opened to students for the 2024-25 Academic Year, includes state-of-the-art labs for anatomy, biology, chemistry, microbiology, and physiology, as well as classrooms, student support spaces, offices, and a conference room.
Designed for maximum flexibility and functionality, the small-but-mighty center features multi-purpose classrooms on the first floor and labs on the second floor. The classrooms accommodate a range of curriculum options and instructors.
Classroom furniture is flexible, to easily adapt the learning environment to different instructional methods. A shared office space provides touch-down workstations for the faculty members who are coming and going to teach in the building.
The specialized labs mirror those in HVCC’s main campus science center, ensuring continuity for students and faculty. These labs, equipped with cutting-edge technology, support both current and emerging fields. Classrooms and labs are outfitted with flexible teaching lecterns connected to classroom controls and technology.
The basement level provides prep space for lab chemicals and room for future program growth, ensuring the STEM Education Center can continue to meet evolving educational needs.
A Good Neighbor to Nature and NYSERDA
Located in NYSERDA’s Saratoga Technology and Energy Park (STEP), the STEM Education Center was designed to meet STEP’s community and sustainability guidelines, with a goal of LEED Certification. Prioritizing occupant wellness, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality, the building comfortably achieved LEED Silver certification.
The building systems, designed to optimize energy performance, include geothermal wells, solar hot water heating, and electrical systems.
White roofing and strategic paving choices prevent microclimate effects, while reduced parking spaces, EV charging stations, and bike racks further support sustainable site design.
The design team embraced the opportunity to integrate the building into its natural setting. The STEM Education Center was designed to harmonize within the wooded site while being a good neighbor to the TEC-Smart building.
Oriented to continue the rhythm and color of the strong roof line of the TEC-Smart building, the new building’s form and shape establishes a unified relationship with its neighbor.
As Mosaic principal John Onderdonk said, “The design marries the idea of light peering through the pine tree forest – thin vertical bands of windows – with the aesthetic of the TEC-Smart building in its roofline, its materiality, and the atrium with glazing at either end, opening to the forest.”
Curtainwall glazing defines the primary façade of the new building, wrapping the main stair. The glass reflects and reveals the surrounding forest, making the building appear semi-transparent. A condition that further echoes the neighboring TEC-Smart building.
The remaining elevations are clad in a natural palette resembling a genomic sequence. Each is punctuated with full-height glazing, providing expansive views of the natural surroundings and flooding the labs and classrooms with daylight.
Inside, the color-drenched staircase is an inviting focal point that encourages occupants to take the stairs. The elevators are tucked away further down the hallway. Informal seating areas within the circulation spaces foster collaboration and interaction among students and faculty.
The large windows help with wayfinding throughout the building, providing natural light, offering forest views, and creating an inviting atmosphere.
Lasting Community Impact
The completion of the new STEM Education Center has enabled HVCC to increase their capacity in healthcare, STEM, and skilled trades. All of these industries are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers and a skills gap that continues to widen over time.
One of the most affordable colleges in New York, HVCC’s expanded North Extension Center will allow the college to train hundreds of graduates to enter in-demand fields—while keeping the workforce local and providing a significant economic boost to the region.
Emphasizing adaptability and sustainability, the center equips students with the skills needed to succeed in a dynamic workforce.
