The museum’s art galleries have been converted into labs (right), while its public zones are now occupied by offices and collaboration spaces. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAccording to Masume Dana, senior associate at Forell\/Elsesser, the new structural solution essentially reinforces Ciampi’s original concept with some new enhancements. MBH studio director Ken Lidicker adds: \u201cWe identified four main challenges that had to be solved for the project to succeed\u2014preservation of the historic character, upgrading of structural performance and mechanical systems as well as access for the new use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A modern lab\u2019s mechanical needs are much greater than an art museum\u2019s. Because the thin concrete roof couldn\u2019t take additional loads and was a part of the building\u2019s character, the team looked to empty spaces in the structural concrete \u201ctrees\u201d that help hold up each ramp, as well as to spaces within the floor structure. Additional interstitial space was found in the tall volumes of the galleries that were converted to labs. The area of the galleries where the ramps meet and overlook the atrium became collaboration zones. The building\u2019s varied skylights, which had once played havoc with delicate artwork (they were replaced in 1994 using translucent sandwich panels) once again consist of clear glazing, resulting in an ethereal, almost-spiritual light quality similar to when the building first opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The team determined that 6,600 square feet of additional office space was needed. In response, MBH designed a simple, modern, yet contrasting volume that resembles a glass and steel drawer emerging from a concrete cabinet and uses concrete walls that extend the building\u2019s radii into its garden. Filling in part of the garden with offices and making the rest of it private somewhat compromises the original site character. (And views to the garden were somewhat compromised by the necessary BRBs.) But this was mitigated by adding a landscaped area to the northwest corner of the site and adding a through-block pedestrian path (designed by Jett Landscape Architecture + Design). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although Ciampi\u2019s vision aspired to permanence, the museum\u2019s use lasted less than fifty years. The ability to analyze and improve building engineering performance has changed dramatically since 1970. This allowed the building to evolve and house future generations as they change the future of bioengineering. In this case, it\u2019s a win\/win: scientific research has a new, powerful space, and an original architectural vision endures. As MBH Principal Lidicker said, \u201cWe let the building continue to express itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nPrev<\/button>Next<\/button><\/div> <\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n