Photo
Courtesy of Bernard Tschumi Architects |
Florida
International University School of Architecture/Miami,
Florida
Architects
Bernard Tschumi Architects/New York
BEA International/Coral Gables, Florida
Joint Venture
Owner
Florida Board of Education/Tallahassee, Florida
Size/Cost
100,000 sf/$17 million
TLC Services
M/E
 
Sleek
and striking, the School of Architecture building was
designed by Bernard Tschumi Architects of New York and
BEA International of Coral Gables, a joint venture selected
from among 18 architects vying in an international design
competition. Four buildings of different heights, interlaced
with multilevel walkways and bridges, form a quadrangle
and open onto an interior courtyard. Two pre-cast white
concrete buildings, one for classrooms and studios and
the other for faculty offices, form the long sides of
the quadrangle. Two smaller buildings with brightly colored
ceramic tile exteriors, tilting walls and asymmetrical
roof lines form the shorter sides of the complex. TLC
engineers coordinated closely with the architects to integrate
the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems into
the buildings’open architecture design, which has
concrete walls and floors and exposed ceilings. Light
doesn’t reflect well off exposed concrete, so lots
of direct and indirect lighting is used. Serving as both
functional and design elements, the exposed ductwork and
electrical mountings are carefully aligned with the joists
and light fixtures. Sanitary and storm water pipes are
painted black to stand out against the concrete walls.
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