date: February 2003
area: 15000 sqft.
A grant by the Angelo Donghia Foundation for a new Materials Study Center for the Interior Design Department at Parsons offered the opportunity to infuse new energy into an uninspired studio space, while providing a new way for students to interact with the materials of their investigations. The center, comprised of a materials gallery and archive, an interactive classroom and a computer lab, was conceived as a transparent island, offering an unmediated relationship between the new center and the studio, students and faculty, public and institution.
Colored resin panels extend from the gallery ceiling, displaying materials for ongoing curated exhibitions. The classroom doubles as a lecture hall and presentation space. Other materials include laser cut, steel powder coated scrim, acid etched glass, stained medium density fiberboard millwork, sanded homasote exhibition walls, and wire-cut foam-formed concrete, found in the new administrative reception area.....more
AIA New York Design Award, Donghia Materials Study Center 2004.