The School of Architecture and Planning

OPEN STUDIOS The studio spaces are not only open to each other,... Read More OPEN STUDIOS The studio spaces are not only open to each other, but also to the first-floor critique bridge, a space with rotating pinup boards and room for classes to gather. "Anything can happen in this space," says Predock. "It is the pulse of an architecture school. Here it's not locked away, it's at the crossroads." The open studios themselves were a conscious change from what the school had before, and a positive one, says Schluntz: "You just sense the intensity. Because of the openness, there is a lot of wonderful engagement that we didn't have previously."

OPEN STUDIOS The studio spaces are not only open to each other,... Read More OPEN STUDIOS The studio spaces are not only open to each other, but also to the first-floor critique bridge, a space with rotating pinup boards and room for classes to gather. "Anything can happen in this space," says Predock. "It is the pulse of an architecture school. Here it's not locked away, it's at the crossroads." The open studios themselves were a conscious change from what the school had before, and a positive one, says Schluntz: "You just sense the intensity. Because of the openness, there is a lot of wonderful engagement that we didn't have previously."

Predock describes the building enclosure as "a big unapologetic ... Read More Predock describes the building enclosure as "a big unapologetic wall that has apertures that allow different possibilities." The expanses of glazing allow passersby on the south or north sides of the building to see the activity in what is often a 24-hour building. The openings also allow students to look out, which Predock notes is something "that people in these studios need to, but don't often, do." His client is pleased. "The building responds even beyond my expectations," Schluntz says. "The school and our programs went from virtual obscurity to being the prominent feature on this segment of the campus."

"The guts of the building are hanging out, in an instructional s... Read More "The guts of the building are hanging out, in an instructional sense," says Predock, when describing the building's interior. All systems are exposed, from the massive steel trusses to cable trays that snake along the ceilings, bringing power and network operations to every workstation. The exterior walls--of poured-in-place concrete tinted an adobe tone to match the other campus buildings--are exceptionally thick. The thickness accommodates a plenum that creates airflow in an inductive-air system.

South Facade Section

Critique bridge as seen from studio space

OPEN STUDIOS The studio spaces are not only open to each other,... Read More OPEN STUDIOS The studio spaces are not only open to each other, but also to the first-floor critique bridge, a space with rotating pinup boards and room for classes to gather. "Anything can happen in this space," says Predock. "It is the pulse of an architecture school. Here it's not locked away, it's at the crossroads." The open studios themselves were a conscious change from what the school had before, and a positive one, says Schluntz: "You just sense the intensity. Because of the openness, there is a lot of wonderful engagement that we didn't have previously."

OPEN STUDIOS The studio spaces are not only open to each other,... Read More OPEN STUDIOS The studio spaces are not only open to each other, but also to the first-floor critique bridge, a space with rotating pinup boards and room for classes to gather. "Anything can happen in this space," says Predock. "It is the pulse of an architecture school. Here it's not locked away, it's at the crossroads." The open studios themselves were a conscious change from what the school had before, and a positive one, says Schluntz: "You just sense the intensity. Because of the openness, there is a lot of wonderful engagement that we didn't have previously."

OPEN STUDIOS The studio spaces are not only open to each other,... Read More OPEN STUDIOS The studio spaces are not only open to each other, but also to the first-floor critique bridge, a space with rotating pinup boards and room for classes to gather. "Anything can happen in this space," says Predock. "It is the pulse of an architecture school. Here it's not locked away, it's at the crossroads." The open studios themselves were a conscious change from what the school had before, and a positive one, says Schluntz: "You just sense the intensity. Because of the openness, there is a lot of wonderful engagement that we didn't have previously."