Type. The analyzed object is a public building and the educational facility of the Community college of Baltimore County (CCBC) school buildings ("CCBC History Timeline", 2018). CCBC has several campuses in such communities as Catonsville, Dundalk, and Essex, and all of them are located in the state of Maryland ("CCBC History Timeline", 2018). Each of these university communities began as a separate college, but already in 1998, the colleges of Catonsville, Dundalk, and Essex decided to unite, which was the beginning of the history of Community College of Baltimore County ("CCBC History Timeline", 2018).
Name. Each building in the student community has a name created from four components, which means the area of activities of this construction. In this regard, the analyzed building has such elements as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Therefore, STEM building is an educational institution that contains laboratories, library, and classrooms for students of the Community College, who are interested in science, mathematics, engineering, and technologies.
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Location. The campus, in which the building is located, contains a whole range of training programs in various areas and classroom studies, as well as a place for student activities and scientific practice. Catonsville Campus is located in Baltimore County, at 800 South Rolling Road ("CCBC History Timeline", 2018). Since its establishment in 1953, the college has existed in the basement of one of the Catonsville high schools, and the number of students of this educational institution was about 50 people ("CCBC History Timeline", 2018). However, as early as 1959, the District Education Council had begun collecting money for a permanent college building, and after four years, they bought out one of the dairy farms ("CCBC History Timeline", 2018). Currently, the Catonsville campus has 19 full-fledged buildings, one of which is the analyzed STEM building. Considering the role of STEM in this campus, it is a place, where students can practice science, engineering, technology, and math.
Functions. The primary function of the STEM building is the development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in college. Moreover, another feature of the building is to enable students to express themselves in these areas. Also, students create various useful projects in this building, which is a social function of the STEM building.
Foundation, Structure, Materials, and Roofing System of the Building
The foundation of the building is a frame because this type of construction is the most reliable and environmentally friendly, which is essential for such a large structure as CCBC (Kultermann & Spence, 2016). The main part of the analyzed building has the shape of a square. However, the building has an extension in the form of a cylinder. The design of the building was created in a modern style. Moreover, the STEM building has a flat-roof made of reliable waterproofing materials. Indeed, there is no additional ceiling, so the ceiling of the lower floor is the main roof structure, which has a flat shape (Kultermann & Spence, 2016). Such a roof is suitable for a temperate climate of the state of Maryland since it is more challenging to prevent heat loss through such a roof in harsh climatic conditions (Kultermann & Spence, 2016). Additionally, the building has a full glass wall, which significantly affects the energy savings on sunny days.
The extension of the cylindrical shape is built of bricks. However, an additional panel coating of polyurethane was used to improve the design of the expansion. Also, the bottom of the extension has a stone finish.
Building Sections
The STEM building has a wide lobby with a panoramic view, since one of its walls is made from the glass. Analysis of the photos has shown that the building has three floors. Basing on the name of the building, there are five sections of the building: the scientific, technological, engineering, mathematic, and administrative ones. The first floor occupies a hall and two toilet rooms as well as a small recreation area, where students can take a coffee, and have some rest on the sofas.
Engineering section . The engineering section is located on the second floor. Moreover, the second floor contains several classrooms and an extensive library. These classes are used for activities and club meetings on robotics and other engineering areas.
Mathematical section . The mathematical section is also on the second floor. This section includes a large lecture hall with educational materials, 3D-models of geometric figures, and several teachers, who conduct practical classes. This section is scheduled and has a clear timetable for classes in contradistinction to other parts of the STEM building.
Scientific section . There is a large research laboratory on the third floor, where students can conduct scientific experiments under the supervision of college teachers. Near the laboratory, there is a classroom with a large number of textbooks, treatises, and scientific works, so the visitors can explore a scientific theory.
Technological section . Moreover, on the third floor, there is the section with technological direction. In this section, there are two classrooms with powerful computers, proctors, and other technological devices. Students can use this equipment to develop their technology skills.
Administrative section . Near the main STEM building, there is an extension in the shape of a cylinder. This extension has no windows, so it can be a management section. The administrative section also has three floors, and includes the office of teachers and administration offices, as well as a conference room.
Environmental Conditions That Enhances the Building Uses
The state of Maryland has a humid subtropical climate (The National Climatic Data Center, n.d.). Moreover, the temperature in Baltimore in January is usually from -1 ° C to 7 ° C, and in July from 23 ° C to 33 ° C (The National Climatic Data Center, n.d.). Indeed, snowfall is a rare phenomenon, which has a positive effect on the safety of the building. Such a moderate climate does not pose a threat to the STEM construction. Moreover, this climate has allowed the administration of the college to make the building moderately warm, so the heating systems in the STEM building are not powerful, which saves energy and the cost of construction materials.
Moreover, the entire campus including the area near the STEM building contains a large number of trees, bushes, and flowers, which is a positive aspect for students and building workers. Fresh air has a beneficial effect on the mental activity of visitors. The same area around the building contains a large number of fields, where students can spend lunch breaks. Such breaks in the fresh air have a positive effect on the health of students, which makes this building even more attractive for young scientists. To the left of the entrance of STEM, there is a row of tables and chairs, where students can have lunch, which is comfortable and convenient, since they should not look for a place to eat, and should not spend time on the way to the cafeteria.
Potential Issues, Which Influence the Building
However, the state of Maryland is confirmed by floods, which can have a negative impact on the college campus, and, in particular, on STEM. The building has no elevations, so water can make the building under flooding, which will make access to the building impossible. Moreover, in case of heavy precipitation such as hail or prolonged snowfall, the flat roof of STEM may not withstand and start leaking, which is also a potential danger for this building. Moreover, since Maryland is located on the west coast of the country, the area, in which the college is located, is a subject to possible strong winds, hurricanes, and other cataclysms. The STEM building is not sufficiently protected from such natural phenomena, so there is a danger of its destruction.
References
CCBC History Timeline. (2018). Retrieved from https://ccbchistory.ccbcmd.edu/
Kultermann, E., & Spence, W. (2016). Construction materials, methods and techniques . Cengage Learning.
The National Climatic Data Center. Climate of Maryland. Retrieved from https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim60/states/Clim_MD_01.pdf
