Myrtle Hall

What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?

We were invited with three other design firms to respond to Pratt’s RFP for the new building. We submitted a proposal, and then made a presentation to the Buildings & Grounds Selection Committee. Based on both, we were awarded the project. Our presentation focused not on our previous work, but on an exploration of the site, the program as well as the architectural and planning possibilities of the project, which we believed engaged and excited the Selection Committee.

Can you describe your design process for the building?

We spent a great deal of time analyzing the site conditions on Myrtle Avenue and to the south to determine an appropriate design response that would relate to the various site conditions and celebrate the differences between them. Simultaneously we had in-depth meetings with all the stakeholders, including all the departmental heads and the building committee, which then informed our conceptual alternate design schemes. Once a concept was agreed upon we refined it into a detailed design proposal. At the same time, the Construction Manager (CM) was constantly monitoring costs and constructability issues so that the team stayed on track to realize an optimal design solution within Pratt’s resources. We collaborated constantly as a team with the client and CM in the spirit of maximizing a quality outcome.

How does the completed building compare to the project as designed? Were there any dramatic changes between the two and/or lessons learned during construction?

Given the many challenges of the site, the regulatory agencies and myriad of authorities, as well as budget challenges, the final building looks remarkably like the original design concept. Due to budget challenges there were design revisions but nothing that fundamentally compromised the built result.

How does the building compare to other projects in your office, be it the same or other building types?

Myrtle Hall is at upper end of our work in the office, it is the largest academic new building we have designed, and the most ambitious LEED Gold certified building we have completed to date. It is similar in its most fundamental approach to design to our other projects, being of its time, designed in a contemporary idiom and with an empathic approach to its site and occupants.

How does the building relate to contemporary architectural trends, be it sustainability, technology, etc.?

The building has many state-of-the-art technologies and since the Digital Arts program is the single largest tenant, demands for advanced IT technologies were paramount. In addition, the building is as sustainable as possible within the project’s resources, making it a leader in the field of green design. It is currently the first LEED Gold academic building in Brooklyn.

Are there any new/upcoming projects in your office that this building’s design and construction has influenced?

While we have several new projects, none of them currently compare in scope and design ambition to Myrtle Hall, but in many ways each project informs the next and we are constantly building on a tradition of responsive modern design that contributes to the life and vitality of New York City and perpetuates our particular interest in the place where art and technology intersect, as exemplified by Myrtle Hall.

E-Mail Interview conducted by John Hill