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Architects: Frederick Fisher and Partners
- Area: 46000 m²
- Year: 2009
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Photographs:Benny Chan
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Manufacturers: Panelite, Dunn Edwards, Lucifer Lighting
Text description provided by the architects. The Walter & Leonore Annenberg Center for Information Science and Technology (IST) is a 46,000 sf research facility designed as home to participants of the IST Initiative, a program of interdisciplinary research that addresses the growth and impact of information science as it relates to all science and engineering practices. Participants in this initiative migrate from all parts of the campus, representing all Colleges of Science and Engineering at Caltech.
The aim of the facility is to foster collaboration, research and teaching intrinsic to this new academic discipline. The building was planned as an immediately accessible plaza of group teaching, learning and working spaces on the ground level supporting a two story research center.
Glass walls make the ground level an active, connected environment. The upper two levels contain faculty and graduate student offices and studios, designed for the project teamwork which is at the core of the University’s educational and research activities.
Flexible studios open onto a two story atrium that acts as a “town square”, furnished for casual gathering, events and study. Upper levels are also interconnected by a two story “resident lounge” that functions as an updated faculty club with dramatic views of the mountains and campus walkway. FFP incorporated green materials and fixtures such as those made from certified wood & recycled content, low VOC paints and carpet, waterless urinals, and a white roof system.
A great focus was placed on the individual comfort of the professors that will have offices in the IST Center. In addition, operable windows have been included in these spaces to maximize thermal comfort and personal control.
This LEED Gold project was awarded “Best in Show” honors from the Los Angeles Chapter of the USGBC at their 2011 Sustainable Innovation Awards.
