The CSN Westside Education & Training Center is a collaboration between the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and the City of Las Vegas to create a new educational facility on the site of the Historic Westside School. The center will feature healthcare laboratories, conference rooms, computer labs, vocational classrooms for manufacturing and construction, and a welding laboratory. Designed to serve the local community, the facility will provide access to introductory courses, workforce training opportunities, and pathways to CSN degree programs.
Located within the Historic Westside School campus, KME Architects partnered with CSD Architects, the project lead, to design a facility that honors the historic campus and surrounding neighborhood. The building’s form, color palette, and overall character complement the original Historic Westside Schoolhouse and annex, creating a cohesive campus environment.
The facility is organized into two distinct wings, known as the “Loud” and “Quiet” sides. The Loud wing houses manufacturing, welding, CNC manufacturing, and construction training programs, while the Quiet wing accommodates healthcare training programs, including phlebotomy, CPR, and other healthcare certification courses. Administrative offices, reception areas, and support spaces serve as a buffer between the two wings.
A prominent glass entrance provides visibility into the building’s activities, allowing CSN to showcase its educational programs while fostering engagement and interest from the surrounding community.
KME Architects approaches each project through a structured and systematic process designed to ensure a seamless transition from design through construction. The project will advance through carefully planned design and construction phases, with defined milestones that support timely project delivery.
During the Design Development phase, significant emphasis is placed on refining the building envelope, structural systems, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) infrastructure. Building plans, elevations, cores, and other key elements will be refined and coordinated.
Specialty consultants including acoustical, lighting, sustainability, and other technical experts work closely with the design team to integrate their disciplines into a cohesive design solution.
The KME team provides ongoing cost verification, value analysis, and constructability reviews to ensure that design decisions remain aligned with project goals, budget expectations, and operational requirements.
Maintaining a high level of collaboration and communication among all team members is critical during Design Development. Frequent design reviews and the distribution of work-in-progress drawings help identify and resolve potential conflicts before they become issues.
This coordination process helps pinpoint areas of concern before conflicts arise. Associate team members will utilize Building Information Modeling (BIM) to further refine this process. This approach promotes ownership of design solutions by all team members and provides a method for tracking design rationale.
A key part of the design team will be a dedicated Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Director for the duration of the project. This individual will be a senior, highly experienced project architect with the expertise and leadership necessary to comprehensively and meticulously address all issues. Ensuring that the QA/QC Director reviews all drawings and actively participates in the decision-making process will contribute significantly to the successful completion of the project.
The Design Development package will undergo a comprehensive review and life-cycle analysis to ensure long-term operational performance, maintainability, and cost-effectiveness.
Contract documents will be developed by augmenting the approved Design Development drawings with additional detail and coordination. Full system sheets will be developed, construction packages determined, and constructability issues resolved.
AIAIA, NCARB, NOMA, LEED AP BD+C
Principal
Registered Architect: NV, AZ, MI, OK, UT NCARB
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
American Institute of Architects National Organization of Minority Architects
Master of Architecture, Lawrence Technology University, 2005
Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Lawrence Technology University, 2002
* Experience prior to founding KME Architects
AIA, NCARB, NOMA, APEC
Principal
Melvin Green is co-founder and Principal-in-Charge of KME Architects, with over 40 years of experience in architectural design and project management. A respected leader in the Las Vegas community since the mid-1990s, he is recognized for both his professional work and civic contributions. In 2021, he received the AIA Nevada Distinguished Service Award, including the Citizen Architect Award, honoring his impact on the community. Melvin has led numerous master planning efforts across a broad range of project types, including housing, public works, commercial, religious, educational, hospitality, and healthcare developments throughout the greater Las Vegas area.
Registered Architect: NV, FL, GA, LA, TN, TX, Guam
American Institute of Architects National Organization of Minority Architects
National Associations of Minority
Contractors
Bachelor of Architecture, Louisiana Technological University, 1980