The goal of the Yavapai Collage Skill Center  was to embrace the design process that allowed for a more non-traditional teaching methodology where students can obtain self-sufficiency, where the curriculum responds to economic needs, and the architecture responds to the curriculum. The program utilizes a flexibility of design in the lab spaces to accommodate the evolving needs of the campus. This project uses an aggressive energy-efficient design strategy which includes the use of photovoltaic panels, passive solar heating, wind power, and daylighting. the orientation of the building on the site is set to respond to the natural site topography, wind and solar conditions. This placement within the desert allows for a unique building design to take advantage of the winter solar heating and natural ventilation properties provided on the Verde Valley site.