“ The negative spaces created by the branching bars are treated with the same sensitivity as
the interior spaces themselves .
ARCHITECTS DESIGN
In its former life , the building site contained a parking lot and an access road to an adjacent building , all next to a beautiful wetland that the campus had turned away from . For us , regenerative design involves working with nature as an active partner towards both respectful site design and intelligent construction with responsible systems and materials . To better connect to the natural landscape , we buried the existing access road along with all packing and loading to minimize the visual presence of cars and trucks .
In terms of massing , each of the building ’ s distinct bars , or wings , cascade to the south and feature inhabitable , interlacing green roof terraces that overlook the wetland . A 260 kW photovoltaic array screens rooftop mechanical units from view . Stormwater is collected and returned to the wetland .
The negative spaces created by the branching bars are treated with the same sensitivity as the interior spaces themselves . Courtyards , gardens , plazas , and a sunken tennis court break down the scale of the building and provide informal outdoor spaces for work , recreation , and relaxation . Natural light floods the workspaces along each bar from glazing on two sides and skylights above communicating stairs .
Exposed concrete on the interior provides a raw , open palette in the design studios and expresses the building ’ s structure in key moments . Energy efficient mechanical systems include displacement ventilation and radiant sails . When building design reaches the scale of urban design , sustainability is non-negotiable .
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