The Grainger College of Engineering

Siebel Center Architect Wins AIA Gold Medal

1/15/2010

As students and visitors to the Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science have long recognized, the building is one of the most technologically advanced--and beautiful--buildings on any campus. The building has won accolades since its opening in 2004, and again, finds itself in the spotlight, as lead architect Peter Bohlin was recently honored with the 2010 AIA Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects.

Written by

As students and visitors to the Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science have long recognized, the building is one of the most technologically advanced--and beautiful--buildings on any campus. The building has won accolades since its opening in 2004, and again, finds itself in the spotlight, as lead architect Peter Bohlin was recently honored with the 2010 AIA Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects.

 

A vibrant, collaborative space, with natural light, open spaces, and opportunities around every corner for collaboration and interaction, the department’s home serves as a uniquely inspirational space for computer science students and faculty to study and research.

The AIA Gold Medal, voted on annually, is considered to be the profession's highest honor that an individual can receive. The Gold Medal honors an individual whose significant body of work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture.

The Siebel Center provides stunning example of Bohlin’s trademark versatile, contextual use of materials.

Brick, slate, copper, and glass were used to construct a traditional south-facing exterior to harmonize with the surrounding buildings and a modern north face to reflect the cutting edge activities within.

The vision for the building was not only to create a magnificent space to work in, but to offer opportunities to investigate and apply computing tools on the building itself, allowing Siebel Center to serve as a laboratory for exploring and evaluating 21st century computing environments. Advanced computing capabilities within the building allow students and faculty to examine communication and computation issues related to pervasive computing, multimedia infrastructure, building intelligence, security and privacy, and art.

The building received the 2008 Honor award from AIA Pittsburgh.

Examples of Bohlin’s other work includes:

The Apple Store Fifth Avenue in New York City, a pure, pristine glass cube absent any structural steel that takes visitors below ground, away from its busy urban milieu, and into one of Apple's flagship retail destinations.

Seattle City Hall; its varied curtain wall facades of steel and glass uniquely reflect the solar orientation and urban fabric of each face

Pixar Studios and Headquarters; a 200,000 square foot, two story, steel and masonry building. At the core of the facility is a large atrium that acts as a central piazza for the campus.
____________________

Contact: Jennifer LaMontagne, associate director of communications, Department of Computer Science, 217/333-4049.

If you have any questions about the College of Engineering, or other story ideas, contact Rick Kubetz, Engineering Communications Office, 217/244-7716, editor.

 

Share this story

This story was published January 15, 2010.