Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business

Mills College is a private, not-for-profit college dedicated to providing quality undergraduate and graduate education for women. Founded in 1852 in Oakland, California, the college is noted for its historic campus and significant landscape heritage. The success of the Mills MBA Program gave rise to the creation of the Mills Graduate School of Business (GSB), which represents a significant new direction for the college. Prominently located at the symbolic gateway to the campus, the new 28,000-square-foot GSB building will define the college's future as a leader in business education for women and continue its legacy of environmental stewardship.

Forward looking, yet sensitive in its scale and siting to the historic campus context, the design of the new two-story building fulfills the GSB's functional requirements. The project's L-shaped plan and southwest orientation allow the conservation of historic green space, provide optimal sun exposure and highlight a new academic and social focal point that reinforces the campus core. Designed to foster impromptu as well as programmed interaction for both students and faculty, the building is organized along a deep indoor/outdoor porch covered by an extensive green roof. Planted with drought tolerant succulents, the green roof offers the benefits of solar shading and water conservation. The porch, which is the GSB building's main entry, connects public spaces to the great gathering hall and an array of instructional spaces, meeting rooms and faculty offices. A second-floor suite of spaces that overlooks the green roof provides meeting rooms and amenities for the graduate students.

A major focus of the project's design is the seamless integration of sustainable features that provide energy conservation for the college as well as a state-of-the-art learning environment for the occupants. Energy efficient, radiant heated floors paired with operable windows for natural ventilation improve air temperature control and air quality. A storm water catchment and storage system coupled with low-flow toilet fixtures recycle and reduce the building's overall water consumption. Low-E insulated glazing systems and solar shading provide optimal daylighting and views to the outdoors while reducing heat gain. In accordance with its sustainable goals, Mills College will seek LEED NC v2.2 Certification at either the Gold or Silver level for the GSB project.