Urban Institute

The Urban Institute is a multi-use building in Oakland. It contains a streetfront exhibition space, assembly hall, scale model of the city, research center, and rentable meeting rooms. The project revolves around the premise that section can be used to organize program. Subsequently, section can create rich interactions between the different constituencies of the building. The building achieves this in three ways: First, the four main programs are pushed to the front corner [and located one per floor]. Second, a core groups together all the solid elements of the program. Third, a large open “slot” is carved into the back, holding the public circulation. The slot also contains a “filigree” of columns acting as a semi-transparent layer between program and slot. Secondary rooms straddle the columns creating connections between program and slot. The slot is also the primary environmental strategy, allowing natural airflow through cross-ventilation and stack effect, and producing sunlight deep into the building. Furthermore, a central void carves through the main programs, linking one floor to another. Finally, the architectural vocabulary of the performative skin is divided into operable material bands that relate to the different programs within. This all produces effects of lightness, airiness, continuity, and interconnectedness.