University of West Attica

The new three-story building of UNIWA is located in the “Alsos” region of Aegaleo, on West Attica. It is a new addition to the existing campus and the goal is to cover the increasing educational needs of the university. The existing building complexes, within the campus, did not have the capacity to host the current amount of students and activities. 
The whole campus is 59.102 sq. meters and it is consisted of several buildings, completed in different phases. The new structure was restricted to a 45,00 m.* 42,50 m. space, resulting in a square shaped building with a built-up area of 7.690 sq. m. It is consisted of three stories and basement. 
The target was to create a new building, with functional and easy to navigate layout, that is able to provide high-quality educational procedures, but also take into consideration the connection between the existing structures. Main concern was to create a design that would be cost efficient to be built, to operate and to maintain throughout the years. 
The interior layout is shaped around a 17,5 m. * 6,60 m. central atrium. The concept was to create units, that the students could work without disturbance and distraction, but also to design a space that encourages social interactions, provides a break from the hectic student life and is able to host multiple events. 
On the ground floor, there are three amphitheaters, a cafeteria/ canteen and a relaxing area, under the atrium. It, also, includes auxiliary spaces, such as: storage units and W.C. There are three staircases, two inside the building and one external, leading to every level. The first and second floor are identical and each one includes: six classrooms, faculty offices and W.C. The basement is mainly used as a parking space, but it also hosts MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) facilities and storage units. 
Considering the impact and consequences of uncontrollable human activities on the environment, it was important to produce an environmentally- friendly, sustainable design. 
Our goal was:
– To reduce the ecological and energy footprint
– To form a healthy, comfortable and safe interior
– To create thermal and optical comfort conditions
– To reduce the operating and maintenance costs 
In order to accomplish these and not burden the environment any further, we added passive thermal and cooling systems, such as: exterior insulation, energy efficient frames, a solar atrium, vertical shadowing systems, louvers and ceramic sunbreaks. 
The final image of the new edifice is a clean, cubic shaped volume with protruding elements and intricate details. The metallic mesh, the sunbreaks and the canopy on the entrance are the most prominent features of the building, that define its character. The final color was selected to complement the roofs of the other campus buildings, but also to transfuse a unique, modern image to the new structure.