The Cochiti Pueblo Native Americans are a small group of about 1,200 people contained within approximately 54,000 acres of land in Pueblo de Cochiti, NM. These Native Americans, like many, are worried about losing their culture and language. This particular group has been affected the most by society than any of the other Pueblo Native Americans; twenty others exist.
The Language Center was about 16,000 sq. ft. and had to be placed on an awkwardly shaped 20,000 sq. ft. site. To compensate the design was broken up into three separate structures, each serving for a different function. They would then be tied together through one single roof system. The southern-most building was to house classrooms, a lounge, and a library. The center building was the multipurpose room for town meetings and gatherings. The easternmost building featured a day-care, the offices, a nursery, a staff lounge, and a waiting area.
The building was primarily constructed of reinforced concrete and reinforced concrete beams to support the concrete slab ceiling; it also featured curtain walls. Reinforced concrete was chosen as the primary structure due to the areas hot arid climate. This would provide the thermal massing desired, while the large overhangs provide the shade needed around the curtain walls, as to not allow concentrated heat build up inside. The roof system had an all around four feet overhang, except along the terrace where it overhangs an extra 17.5 ft.
Inspirations include Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Kahn.
South view of the language center.
Community lounge for the designated "teen building."
Reinforced concrete structure with wood trimmings.
South view of the language center.
Programs Used: Revit, AutoCAD, Photoshop
Cochiti Pueblo Language Center