With a rapidly growing student population, Appalachian State University sought to renovate the existing 1960s bookstore and expand the adjacent Plemmons Student Union with a new gathering space. In this phased project, we transformed the facades of the bookstore and the student union, connecting the buildings and creating an attractive new architectural composition on the main quad. The addition, known as the Summit Trail Solarium, features a passive-solar, south-facing garden environment, ambient water fountains, and sky-lit reading areas. The sweeping solarium addition now serves as a refuge for students during the cold mountain winters.