FCA is leading a multi-disciplinary team to design for an extensive renovation of Thompson Hall, one of the earliest buildings on the Farmingdale State College campus. Constructed in 1934, with a significant addition in 1959, the building is connected to the college’s roots as an agricultural school, originally housing dairy laboratories among its program spaces. The renovated building will contain offices and state-of-the-art classrooms to support Farmingdale State’s realignment as a technological college.
As part of our early efforts, FCA studied how various interior configurations within the existing structural framework could support different pedagogies, including collaborative tiered lecture halls and team-based learning spaces while increasing access to daylight and views. Our programming effort builds on the aspirational culture of the college, with accessible faculty offices and beneficial collision points, spaces that provide opportunities for casual interdisciplinary interaction.
Among the challenges are bringing the building to comply with the client’s stringent energy performance criteria, including SUCF’s Deep Energy Retrofit directive and the NY Stretch Energy Code, while satisfying the NY State Historic Preservation Office’s requirements. The first step in this effort is to increase the performance of the building envelope to minimize the need for expensive mechanical systems. FCA developed strategies that increase the envelope’s insulative properties without replacing elements, such as the existing wood double-hung windows, considered historic assets. In addition, we are researching approaches that add insulation to the interior of the perimeter masonry walls that prohibit the formation of moisture within the assembly so that Thompson Hall can continue to provide a healthy learning environment long into the future.
