Collin College IT Center

Frisco, Texas

The Collin County Community College Preston Ridge campus recently underwent a major transformation with the addition of a 91,718 SF Information Technology Center of Excellence. The new three-story building serves over 2,500 students pursuing the college’s new 4-year degree in IT and Cybersecurity programs.

Located in the middle of campus, Beck Architecture and JE Dunn Construction created a design concept divided into three parts: a light-colored block portion of the building that is referential to the materials used throughout the rest of the campus, a dark-colored floating brick box symbolizing the future innovation and growth of the college, and a central glass atrium that connects the two.

KSC worked with over 13,000 SF of Reynobond aluminum composite to craft the metal canopy that serves as the focal point covering the atrium. The desire for the project was that the materials on the exterior continue into the interior including the patterns on the floor, the brick and block walls, and even the metal panel ceiling. By doing this, the idea was that it would produce an effect that when standing inside the atrium, it’s like you are standing in between two independent buildings.

By using ACM, KSC was able to create a lightweight structure with a smooth architectural finish that shimmers and brings life to its surrounding features.