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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA REITZ UNION BALLROOM & AMPITHEATER |
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| CLIENT : |
University of Florida |
| DESIGN ARCHITECT : |
Tat Chan, AIA, NCARB |
| ARCHITECT OF RECORD : |
RS&H, Inc. |
| LOCATION : |
Gainesville, Florida |
| PROGRAM : |
Educational/Conventio |
| AREA : |
30,000 SF |
| COST : |
$ 5,000,000 |
| OUTLINE : |
The Reitz Union is the student center for
the University of Florida's main campus. Situated in the heart
of the university, the Reitz Union contains a plethora of activities
ranging from lodgings, student government offices, banks, restaurants,
service areas, galleries, meeting rooms and recreational facilities.
The expansion of approximately 30,000 sf over an existing
office wing of the Reitz Union includes a two-story ballroom/meeting
room(s), additional meeting rooms and office space, as well
as the addition of an amphitheater on the east side of the
Union, north of the duck pond area.
The Reitz Union Expansion and Amphitheater is a high profile
project in the center of UF's main campus. The project had
some initial concerns. When the Career Resource Center (CRC)
wing was originally built, the structure was meant to support
the loading of two additional floors. However, supporting
a column-free clear span for a ballroom/convention type function
was not anticipated. As a result, the exterior columns could
not handle the loading of the clear span that is a general
requirement for such a facility.
Our principal designer, Tat Chan, AIA, NCARB, was able to
create a solution that controlled costs, maximized value,
minimized impacts and was compatible with the existing architecture.
The expansion was built on top of the existing CRC without
major impacts to the circle drive and the existing on-going
functions of the Reitz Union.
During the initial site visit, a conceptual idea was envisioned
and later tested. This was to combine the two closely spaced
existing column rows at the southern edge of the CRC wing
with a truss. This effort distributed the load to both rows
of columns, so that foundation work was not necessary on the
southern edge of the structure. At the northern edge, a new
row of columns was introduced to carry the other half of the
long span loading. This was a creative and cost-effective
design solution that resulted in the commissioning of the
project.
In addition, pre-function spaces adjacent to the major open
volume ballroom were looped around its perimeter to allow
easy access and egress. Combining existing lounging areas
created a lobby for the new expansion, and the use of retractable
fire-rated partitions gained valuable space by working with
the existing structure. These design features all contributed
to the success of this unique expansion.
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