The Fields Institute Turns Twenty-Five 170725 Final book with covers | Page 62

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Thomas Payne
knew some of the pathways to creative solutions for unique
projects such as the Fields. We felt that looking out into the
world for inspiration was wise, and then we would rely on the
tremendous skills within the KPMB team, 1 and include those
of our client and university collaborators.
A Visit
Bill had the insight to request and then strenuously to
demand that we all travel together to the Newton Institute
in Cambridge to observe a day in the life of a mathematical
research environment. Although I can say with modesty that
the Fields building exceeds the Newton building, and that we
did not see specific architectural solutions to emulate during
ou r visit at Cambridge, we were nonetheless inspired by the
extraordinary Cambridge setting, and by the excitement of
seeing eminent scientists working together on blackboards
over tea. (We were greatly struck by the attachment of
mathematicians to blackboards.) Out of this experience came
the idea that the new Fields building should be organized
around a single special unified volume that would organize
all activities effectively—psychologically, socially, and even
spiritually—so that everyone would feel a part of a singular
enterprise.
I often think back fondly of the picture of myself punting
on the Cam at Cambridge with Bill and his key support staff
from the nascent Fields team along with my own KPMB
colleagues. I can fondly remember, as I swooped under the
Mathematicians’ Bridge, conquering the physics of punting
under Bill’s direction.
1
Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects. Project Team:
Thomas Payne (partner-in-charge); Luigi Larocca (associate-in-charge);
Lexi Kolt-Wagner (project architect); Michael Taylor; Bill Colaco;
Victoria Gregory; David Jesson; Jeff Wagner; Ian Izukawa; Margaret
Graham.