San Francisco · 2006.0719
Construction has begun on the new Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, California — an adaptive reuse of a long-abandoned 60,000-square-foot (5,600-square-meter) power substation building. The design, by Daniel Libeskind and his firm, Studio Daniel Libeskind of New York City, combines the brick facade and other defining features of the substation with contrasting bright blue steel panels. The scheme symbolically incorporates the Herbew letters 'chet' and 'yud,' part of the word "L'Chaim," meaning, "To Life." The museum opening is scheduled for spring 2008.
Los Angeles · 2006.0718
Library Court, an adaptive reuse project, nears completion in downtown Los Angeles, California, across the street from the Richard J. Riordan Central Library. The $20 million project, developed by Newport Beach-based Greystone Group, transforms a 1950s office building into a mixed-use development, featuring 90 condominiums and ground-floor restaurants. Designs by architecture firm Levin & Associates of Los Angeles included preserving the building's marble facade, adding a sixth story, and removing a vertical core to allow for a central courtyard. Architect Brenda Levin has been rehabilitating historic buildings in Los Angeles since the early 1980s.
Rogers · 2006.0718
Construction is in progress on the new 170,000-square-foot (15,800-square-meter) Church at Pinnacle Hills in Rogers, Arkansas. The two-story, concrete-and-glass church will have seating for almost 2,400 people. Its worship center will feature a 6,000-square-foot (560-square-meter) electronically tintable window, expected to be the world's largest. The Rogers office of San Diego, California-based Tucker Sadler Architects performed master planning and design for the building, and they continue to provide architectural and interior design services. Greg Mueller serves as design principal-in-charge. Completion of the first phase of construction is scheduled for fall 2006.
San Francisco · 2006.0717
The San Francisco 49ers football team has revealed updated plans for a new 68,000-seat stadium at Candlestick Point in San Francisco, California. HNTB Architecture Inc. has designed an open-air facility that features elevated promenades, excellent sightlines, views of downtown and of San Francisco Bay, and public plazas. The new venue will be expandable for events such as Olympic ceremonies and the Super Bowl. (San Francisco has submitted a bid to host the 2016 summer Olympic games.) The 49ers plan to fund the $600-to-$800 million facility partly through construction of retail, entertainment, and mixed-use development on adjacent lots. The stadium is scheduled to replace the current venue, Monster Park (formerly Candlestick Park), in time for the 2012 National Football League season.
Providence · 2006.0717
Construction is underway on a $32 million multipurpose educational and art center at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence, Rhode Island. The five-story Chace Center will expand RISD's Museum of Art and reorient it to face downtown Providence, adding new features such as galleries, an auditorium, and classrooms. Signature strong, geometric lines define the design by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, winner of the 1996 Pritzker Prize, while the red brick construction of the building's lower portion echoes the Georgian architecture of downtown. Hayden Salter is project architect for the center, which is scheduled to open in October 2008.
Alexandria · 2006.0714
Wisnewski Blair & Associates, Ltd. (WBA) of Alexandria, Virginia, has promoted five architects to vice president: Kevin Farquhar, AIA; Alicia Goldberg, AIA; Candace Hoskins, AIA; Stephen Ours, AIA; and Steven Weir, AIA. Farquhar has over 28 years of experience, specializing in phased renovation and construction projects in occupied facilities, with clients such as Verizon and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Goldberg has been with WBA for 21 years, specializing in organization of complex projects, with clients such as NIH and the City of Alexandria. Hoskins has over 29 years of experience as project manager and project architect for clients such as the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and the Smithsonian Institution. Ours is a certified building plans examiner and building inspector, with over 25 years of experience as senior project architect and project director for clients such as Apple Federal Credit Union and NIH. Weir has been practicing architecture in Virginia for 31 years, specializing in special government projects, with clients such as Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the U.S. government.
London · 2006.0713
The Serpentine Gallery's 2006 pavilion has opened at Kensington Gardens in London, United Kingdom. Dutch architect and 2000 Pritzker Prize-winner Rem Koolhaas codesigned the temporary gallery with structural designer Cecil Balmond and the London office of Arup. The pavilion consists of a walled enclosure on the gallery's lawn and an inflatable, ovoid canopy that floats above it. The translucent canopy is lit from within at night, and, through use of helium, can be raised or lowered to adjust to the weather. The sixth such temporary pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery, this structure will host an exhibit and a variety of programs through October 15, 2006 and will then be dismantled and sold.
People and Places Last Week
People and Places Archive
ArchitectureWeek Professional Directory
ArchitectureWeek Web Directory
Send us your People and Places items
