The Dede Thompson Bartlett Center for Admission and Career Education

Building Innovative, Sustainable Spaces for Student Success

This project will deliver a modern, purpose-built facility that brings Vassar’s Admission and Career Education teams together in one location. Positioned along Collegeview Avenue, the project establishes a clear and accessible entry point to campus, offering flexible public spaces, interview rooms, and student work areas that enhance the experience of prospective students, families, and current students.

The building is designed around Vassar’s sustainability priorities. It is an all-electric facility featuring a high-performance envelope, triple-glazed operable windows, natural ventilation strategies, and rooftop solar panels. Site improvements such as permeable paving and upgraded storm-water systems further reduce environmental impact and support long-term operational efficiency.

Our approach focuses on high-quality execution, close coordination with campus stakeholders, and careful site logistics to limit disruption. Once complete, the Bartlett Center will serve as a welcoming, efficient, and future-ready hub that strengthens recruitment, supports student success, and reflects the College’s commitment to sustainable development. This project is under construction.

Project Highlights

• Enhancing Accessibility and Infrastructure: Creation of a new North Gate for enhanced accessibility and reworking of parking facilities to alleviate congestion.
• Architectural Innovation and Sustainable Design: Architectural innovation inspired by Vassar’s courtyard tradition, sustainable design featuring triple-pane wood windows and solar panels, all-electric systems for reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and incorporation of LED lighting and split ductless heating systems.
• Preconstruction Planning and Collaboration: Preconstruction services encompassing constructability reviews and logistics planning. Collaboration with local subcontractors and specialty trades for project execution. Development of a detailed construction schedule and site logistics plan. Commitment to value engineering to optimize project budget and quality.
• The building design includes a passive solar approach to help heat the spaces. The large windows on the south-facing facade bring in more light during the cooler months. The overhangs and louvers help keep direct sun out during the warmer season.
• Operable windows high in the room create a stack effect that cools the room without the need for AC. The warmer air rises up and out of the room. Ceiling fans in the offices will keep the air feeling cooler and circulating. The building is all electric and includes a large solar array on the roof.
• Super-insulation in the walls and ceiling will keep the heating and cooling systems smaller than typical. The walls are using R30 insulation, and the roof is R60. Triple-glazed windows will keep the heat in by creating an air barrier from the outside.