KMW Architecture

Brandeis Mandel Center

Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics

BRANDEIS MANDEL CENTER

Kallmann McKinnell & Wood Architects

YEAR
2010

LOCATION
Waltham, United States

CATEGORY
Visitor Center

Text description provided by architect.

There are three primary purposes for creating the Mandel Humanities Center (MHC):

Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics

- provide a place which brings people together and fosters discourse - provide a place to foster interdisciplinary research among the Humanities and Sciences

- bring together different disciplines and different people…span all the communities. The actual program consists of providing space for teaching, research and gathering

Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics

SITE CONCEPT: BUILDING AS BRIDGE AND GATEWAY

The MHC is sited as a gateway building to the Humanities Quad at the highest point of the Brandeis Campus on Cedar Hill.

The placement in front of the existing Olin-Sang Building seeks to bridge the space between the rest of the Brandeis Campus and the Humanities Quad.

Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics

The spatial design is built around an internal pathway that extends the external walkway rising through the campus terraces ascending the hill.

DESIGN CONCEPT: BUILDING AS MIXING CHAMBER

The design provides spaces of varying purposes and scales to facilitate interaction:

Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics

Spatial promenade weaving the MHC and Olin-Sang together with Brandeis Campus
Three Story Forum along with Group Studies overlooking this space

- Office “neighborhoods” at each floor that include a reception/ gathering area, meeting room and galley kitchen as places to interact

Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics

EXTERIOR CONCEPT

The design weaves together a glazed building form and brick building form to create an assemblage linked to the fabric of the Brandeis campus while offering openness, visibility and energy.

The glazed portion encompasses the public type spaces such.

The Forum and Open Office Areas which all face south, makes visible the activities in these spaces from the exterior and provides optimum natural light to the interior.

Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics

The exterior and proSunshades reduce solar heat gain during summer months and energy consumption for air conditioning.

The brick portion extends the architecture of the brick buildings comprising the Humanities Quad. The brick wall encloses the private faculty offices and with the aid of single large windows associated with each office evokes the individuality of a “monks study” within the collective fabric of the building.

Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics


Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics


Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics
Brandeis Mandel Center
© Anton Grassl of Esto Photographics


Brandeis Mandel Center
ground floor plan
Brandeis Mandel Center
1st floor plan
Brandeis Mandel Center
2nd floor plan
Brandeis Mandel Center
3rd floor plan


Brandeis Mandel Center
site plan
Brandeis Mandel Center
ground site plan


Brandeis Mandel Center
section

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