Liaison to the Workforce

The planning model at the new Science Center at Hudson Valley Community College strengthens the students’ liaison to the workforce. Supported by Rensselaer County and the State of New York, the College serves as a bridge between companies seeking skilled employees and people seeking training and employment. This specialized group, not commonly found on other college campuses, is made up of professional staff members who perform all laboratory preparation functions for the science programs. Previously, the Technical Services Group was required to transport lab set-ups through densely populated, public corridors, which was not desirable due to the increased potential exposure to hazardous chemicals. The east and west circulation corridors allow for separation of the public from the lab service component for the lab and lab support spaces, while also buffering the occupied lab spaces from the western exposure in the form of a double wall. This effectively functions as a sustainable attribute, a successful programming solution and an aesthetic feature that is prominently celebrated on the main public face of the College.