Cal Tech Keck Institute for Space Studies, Pasadena building images, CA Architecture Architect
Cal Tech Keck Institute for Space Studies, USA
Californian Educational Development on South Michigan Avenue in Pasadena design by Lehrer Architects
Sep 7, 2016
Design: Lehrer Architects
Location: 345 S. Michigan Ave. Pasadena, CA 91106, USA
Cal Tech Keck Institute for Space Studies, California
image : Benny Chan Fotoworks
Cal Tech Keck Institute for Space Studies, Pasadena
A flexible facility in the heart of a University Campus provides a new home for a leading Scientists Think Tank, for the Institute’s Board of Trustees and other Conference, Academic and Social campus activities.
image : Benny Chan Fotoworks
images : Michael B. Lehrer
The integration of adaptive-reuse and new construction allow for generous outdoor areas that take advantage of the local climate and work as extensions of the interior spaces creating a quintessential Southern California place that fosters creativity and encourages planned and unexpected interactions for the scientific research.
image : Benny Chan Fotoworks
image : Michael B. Lehrer
Design Challenge
• Design and create an environment to facilitate a culture of creativity where scientists and academics of disparate disciplines from around the world meet periodically to contribute to a common cause
• Create a place of interaction and flexibility where “orchestrated collisions” create opportunity for unexpected conversation and creative thinking
• Respond to dramatic differences in scale and style between Mission-style bungalow on one side, and modernist, multistory academic building on the other
• Location of site in the heart of the campus mandates a significant contribution to improve the campus’ urbanism
Design Details
• Strong visual, spatial and physical connection to the campus to create a sense of place in the heart of an elite campus
• The relationship of old and new along with the Southern California climate create a unique opportunity for indoor / outdoor spaces that extend – and enhance – the use of the buildings
• The restored Mission-style structure could not adequately meet the needs of the organization so the adjacent, undeveloped lot of land became the starting point for the design of a new Modernist structure
• Throwaway spaces that were not part of the original brief were leveraged to solve the problem, to create a sanctum in the heart of the campus and promote the significant urban agenda of the campus master plan
• Architecture and organizational mission conspire to create a place that is a catalyst to encourage affinity amongst individuals
• Affinity to the purpose is greatly enhanced by the affinity to the environment
• Architecturally, an association to the existing structure and the existing outdoor landscape is always present and experienced with the new structure
• Existing Mission-style structure undergoes structural stabilization and is restored and re-adapted from faculty housing to offices and meeting rooms
• Scale and proportion of new Modernist structure honor the scale of the existing structure and other syntax of other adjacent structures
• Hyper-functionality and flexibility allow for multiple user groups
• Robust natural light and the ability to control it/block it
• Generous, strategic storage, and easy indoor/outdoor workability, allow for a place that can changeover with ease and speed
• Garden wall (north side) becomes an additional transitional and compositional element with functional purpose as built-in bench seating
• Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors expand the lobby and work space into the loggia and onto the Courtyard
• Angled white boards along the collaborative loggia are bathed in natural light
image : Michael B. Lehrer
Sustainability
Achieving LEED Platinum rating from the USGBC the project, through energy modeling and BIM technology, takes advantage of the campus infrastructure and local climate to create a highly environmentally sustainable facility. Some of these passive and active strategies include:
• Adaptive reuse and restoration of the existing residence maintains the majority of the structural and non-structural elements
• Frameless glass windows and walls, along with extensive skylights provide daylight to all the occupied spaces in the new structure.
• Moveable glass walls along the collaborative lounge with transfer ducts on the opposite wall and low velocity ventilation fans provide the optimum natural ventilation
• Operable sliding panels integrated into the north and west walls of the Meeting Room space provide the natural ventilation for a heat stack effect that is ventilated through automatic, mechanized, louvers located in the southern skylight well. Sensors on the sliding panels trigger or disconnect the HVAC system and the heat exhaust system accordingly
• The concrete slab on grade creates a cooling heat sink to reduce the cooling loads for the building
• Manual and mechanical lighting and HVAC controls create a flexible, adaptive environment that optimizes the use of energy
• Solar energy from the nearby campus array is harvested and allocated for the full energy consumption of the project
• Native, drought tolerant plant selection and high efficiency drip irrigation and controls have a significant impact on water consumption.
• Gardens, paths and courtyard incorporate permeable paving (red gravel, decomposed granite, concrete pavers) in order to recharge the aquifer, prevent water run-off and reduce the heat island effect
• A white, energy-star rated roof reflects heat and sunlight reducing the heat island effect
image : Benny Chan Fotoworks
Website: Cal Tech Keck Institute
Cal Tech Keck Institute for Space Studies information / images received 070916
Lehrer Architects on e-architect
Location: 345 S Michigan Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91106, USA
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