Science Center School
Los Angeles, California · 2004
A precedent for dynamic, deconstructivist educational architecture featuring layered metal-mesh sunscreens, canted glass volumes, and integrated concrete landscape walls.
- What we like about this project
- The dramatic upward tilt of the elevated walkway structure on the left.
Materials
- concrete
- steel
- glass
- perforated-metal-mesh
Visual identifiers
- metal-mesh-screen
- canted-glazing
- curved-concrete-wall
- elevated-walkway
- angular-massing
Style tags
- deconstructivist
- high-tech
- expressive-structure
Visual tags
- deconstructivism
- high-tech
- educational-architecture
- layered-facade
- shading-device
- Geometry
- An angular, dynamic composition featuring a curved concrete retaining wall in the foreground, supporting a multi-tiered structure with canted glazing and a prominent, angled metal-mesh screen wall.
- Facade system
- Glazed curtain wall shaded by an integrated, steel-supported perforated metal screen system.
- Structural guess
- Steel frame superstructure supported by reinforced concrete foundations and retaining walls.
- Spatial scale
- Multi-story educational facility integrated with pedestrian-scale pathways and retaining walls.
- Lighting
- Bright, direct daylight casting sharp shadows beneath the elevated volumes and highlighting the texture of the metal screens.
- Atmosphere
- Bright, industrial, and highly articulated under clear southern California light.
- Environmental context
- Set within a landscaped campus environment in Los Angeles, featuring low green hedges and a clear blue sky.
- Spatial experience
- The building rises dynamically from a landscaped berm, with elevated walkways and layered screens creating a sense of movement, transparency, and structural lightness.
- Composition rhythm
- The horizontal rhythm of the metal screen slats contrasts with the sweeping curve of the concrete base.
- Style reading
- Deconstructivist high-tech architecture
- Program
- School or educational facility
- Perspective
- Exterior Facade
- Discipline
- architecture
- Materials
- concrete, steel, glass, perforated-metal-mesh
- Visual identifiers
- metal-mesh-screen, canted-glazing, curved-concrete-wall, elevated-walkway, angular-massing
- Style tags
- deconstructivist, high-tech, expressive-structure
- Visual tags
- deconstructivism, high-tech, educational-architecture, layered-facade, shading-device
- Geometry
- An angular, dynamic composition featuring a curved concrete retaining wall in the foreground, supporting a multi-tiered structure with canted glazing and a prominent, angled metal-mesh screen wall.
- Facade system
- Glazed curtain wall shaded by an integrated, steel-supported perforated metal screen system.
- Structural guess
- Steel frame superstructure supported by reinforced concrete foundations and retaining walls.
- Spatial scale
- Multi-story educational facility integrated with pedestrian-scale pathways and retaining walls.
- Lighting
- Bright, direct daylight casting sharp shadows beneath the elevated volumes and highlighting the texture of the metal screens.
- Atmosphere
- Bright, industrial, and highly articulated under clear southern California light.
- Environmental context
- Set within a landscaped campus environment in Los Angeles, featuring low green hedges and a clear blue sky.
- Spatial experience
- The building rises dynamically from a landscaped berm, with elevated walkways and layered screens creating a sense of movement, transparency, and structural lightness.
- Composition rhythm
- The horizontal rhythm of the metal screen slats contrasts with the sweeping curve of the concrete base.
- Style reading
- Deconstructivist high-tech architecture
- Program
- School or educational facility
- Perspective
- Exterior Facade
- Discipline
- architecture