Rammed earth and weathered steel tie Arizona’s Maricopa campus to Native American and agricultural roots

Massive slopes for air movement and CorTen Steel!

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Central Arizona College is betting on sustainable construction and higher education to bring the community of Maricopa, a poster child of the housing crash, back to its feet. The university hired SmithGroupJJRto design and build a stunning new college campus that boasts a modern appearance and facilities, but uses traditional and eco-friendly materials that tie the campus to its landscape’s history. In addition to celebrating the local heritage and vernacular, the new campus takes an ecologically sensitive approach to the desert landscape by reintroducing valuable habitat, increasing biodiversity, reducing erosion, and responsibly managing stormwater runoff.

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