Milstein Hall Receives Prestigious Architecture Award
January 14th, 2013Paul Milstein Hall at Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP) received a 2013 AIA Institute Honor Award for Architecture. Awarded annually by the American Institute of Architects, the Institute Honor Award is “the profession’s highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior architecture, and urban design.”
The award citation said of Paul Milstein Hall, “Milstein Hall is the first new building in over 100 years for the renowned College of Architecture, Art and Planning at Cornell University. Rather than creating a new freestanding building, Milstein Hall is an addition to the AAP buildings, creating a unified complex with continuous levels of indoor and outdoor interconnected spaces. Enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass and a green roof with 41 skylights, this ‘upper plate’ cantilevers almost 50 feet over University Avenue to establish a relationship with the Foundry, a third existing AAP facility.”
One jury member said about Milstein Hall that it is “praised by users for its ‘transactional’ qualities: The college’s activities have become far more visually accessible within the Cornell campus; spaces created are connective between Sibley and Rand Halls; and functional relocations—such as the design library—have enhanced communication between student cohorts within the college.” And another said, “The exposed systems and relaxed social ambience tolerate and celebrate the creative clutter created by students.”
“We’re delighted that Milstein Hall has received this high honor,” said Kent Kleinman, the Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of AAP. “It is gratifying to all who worked so hard on this project to have the effort validated by this national jury.”
Construction of Paul Milstein Hall, completed in 2012, was made possible by a grant from the Paul and Irma Milstein Foundation. Architect for the project was Rem Koolhaas and the Office for Metropolitan Architecture.
SOURCE: Cornell Chronicle, American Institute of Architects
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