IKON . 5 ARCHITECTS
Photos : Brad Feinknopf
Key to embodying the ethos of Embry-Riddle in architectural form is the exuberant and creative structural steel expression that illustrates movement , flight , and aerodynamics both externally and internally . The curving bowed roof on top of the structure not only provides solar shading from the harsh Floridian sun but also invokes sinuous avian forms . The vertical , exposed struts convey a featherlike quality and are structural members that tie down the curved roof form from wind uplift , particularly , for hurricane resistance . The great , exposed double arches that wrap the exterior support the vertical roof struts at the shading overhang and signify the main entrances to the building . Internally , an exposed 200-foot curving steel arch bisects the middle of the plan and supports a glass roof above , allowing the students of aviation the ability to look skyward while inside . The building ’ s architecturally exposed structural steel ( AESS ) is an integral design element and helps create an exterior and interior aesthetic that feels finished and dynamic .
The project commenced as an invited , national design competition to create a new student union for Embry-Riddle University that would transform the student experience on campus . The former student union was a small and outmoded facility that no longer supported that growing student enrollment and diverse student activities available at the university . The new Mori Hosseini Student Union strengthens the unique identity and programs for the students at this aeronautical university .
“ It is an iconic centerpiece to the campus that is recognized as more than an architectural masterpiece ,” said Barry Butler , Embry-Riddle president . “ It is the center of student life on our campus .”
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