The Noyes Community and Recreation Center (NCRC) is part of the West Campus Residential
Initiative (WCRI) at Cornell University. The NCRC will serve residents of the west campus
as well as members of the broader community. The program includes a gymnasium, fitness
center, multipurpose room, convenience store, indoor climbing wall and public space for
socializing and games.
The Noyes Community and Recreation Center (NCRC) is part of the West Campus Residential
Initiative (WCRI) at Cornell University. The NCRC will serve residents of the west campus
as well as members of the broader community. The program includes a gymnasium, fitness
center, multipurpose room, convenience store, indoor climbing wall and public space for
socializing and games.
The NCRC extends the planning principles used for the residential portion of the WCRI.
Public circulation paths around the building are designed to create a dynamic experience
of framed views. On the north side of the building a monumental site stair creates a
public gathering and circulation space with strong visual connectivity to the east and
west. A glass curtain wall separates this exterior stair from a parallel lobby stair in
the NCRC. This conceptual extension of exterior space into the building reinforces the
building's connection with the landscape. The upper roof of the NCRC has photovoltaic
shingles that supplement the power requirements of the building and contribute to a theme
of environmental sustainability for the project. The highly visible lower roof of NCRC is
a vegetated roof that creates an attractive greenscape on the building that references the
surrounding landscape.