"The challenge we gave to the architects was we wanted thecampus to complement the community in which we were situated,primarily Mediterranean architecture," says Wendy Harder, directorof community relations for SUA. "Everything was done with thethought of how it was going to affect future students. Allbuildings are within close proximity so that no student has tosprint across campus on a bicycle to get to class on time." Builton 103 acres, the 18 concrete block and steel buildings in thecampus' first phase will total 750,000 sf when completed. Thesecond phase of construction will add another 500,000 sf, includingmore residences, a music hall, a 2,000-seat performing arts center,masters and doctorate program buildings and a student center. Inall, the campus is expected to accommodate 1,200 students when allconstruction is completed.

Surrounded 80% by a wilderness park, the buildings, which arelocated on a sloped parcel, are cut into the hillside so that theentrances are on one level and the exits on another. The buildingsare built to 100-year standards and in conformity with thestrongest earthquake standards in the country. There is an Ethernetsystem in place and 4,000 computer ports on campus, with raisedfloors in every building to adapt to advances in technology.

In addition to housing the one-stop admissions center, as wellas the community relations and finance departments, Founders Hallwill be the home to an 8,000-sf art gallery with an atrium,featuring a glance-up 98 feet to the copper dome roof. Under thatdome is a series of windows that are computer controlled andpowered by a wind vane on top of the building. The system operatesas an air evacuation and emergency smoke evacuation system that isthe first of its type in the nation. A similar system is already inuse in Europe.