Berkeley Art Museum / Pacific Film Archive
Berkeley, California USA

Client
University of California, Berkeley

Architects
Toyo Ito & Associates
Tokyo, Japan

EHDD Architecture
San Francisco, California USA

Services
Façade design, engineering including procurement of the hybrid structural façade comprised of curved and flat steel plates assemblies with concrete infill, suspended and gravity based hybrid glazing systems and entrances.

Description
The façade acts as the load bearing structure replacing conventional columns and beams. Steel plate and concrete composite is contoured in conical and curvilinear shapes creating a sculptural mass of white pearlescent surfaces. The shapes create functional spaces of unique geometry with large monolithic glass surfaces that are subordinate to the opaque surfaces creating light portals. Several large suspended glass facades enclose areas off of the galleries that create observation areas overlooking a park area.