41 Cooper Square : By Morphosis

New York, New York, United States
Morphosis
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong

Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe

A raw and charismatic vertical campus connects students to each other and their urban environment.
The New, $111.6 million academic building at New York City’s Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is the type of extroverted structure one would expect from architect Thom Mayne, FAIA, of the Santa Monica—based firm Morphosis. It has a sharp and folded perforated-stainless-steel shell with an aggressive gash in its main facade. Performance is part of the rationale behind the dynamic sheath, which cloaks a poured-in-place concrete building with a standard window-wall system, helping mitigate heat gain in summer and retain heat in winter. The outer skin is one of several tightly coordinated sustainable features that are likely to earn the project, designed with local associate architect Gruzen Samton, a Platinum certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system.

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

The screen, which Morphosis has deployed in other projects, including the Caltrans Disrict 7 Headquarters, in Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Federal Building, serves not only as an energy-conserving element. It also helps integrate the building, known as 41 Cooper Square, into its urban surroundings, says Mayne, who argues that it is “highly contextual.” The skin crimps and curves, he points out, to respond to the frenetic energy of its East Village environment. And from below the bottom hem of this outer coat, V-shaped, poured-in-place concrete columns emerge to bring the building to the ground. The sculptural and slightly rough supports surrounding the otherwise mostly transparent first level are made of structural rather than architectural concrete, contributing to the exterior’s raw charisma. The building exudes “a kind of toughness that is New York,” he says.

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

This sensibility, explains Mayne, is also in sync with the mission of the egalitarian, but highly selective, tuition-free college, which offers degrees in architecture, engineering, and art. The 150-year-old school was founded by inventor and industrialist Peter Cooper, who had less than a year of formal education. 41 Cooper Square “is embedded in the values of the institution,” says the architect.

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

The nine-story, 175,000-square-foot building was constructed primarily to house the engineering school but also includes some facilities for art and architecture students. It is considerably larger than the two-story, early-20th-century academic building previously on the site. However, the new volume is roughly equivalent to the college’s most identifiable structure — the 1859 Italianate brownstone Foundation Building, which sits kitty-corner to the new building across leafy Cooper Square. But Morphosis can’t claim much of the credit for the dialogue that this similarity in scale creates. 41 Cooper Square’s dimensions — 100 feet wide by 180 feet long by 135 feet tall, with setbacks on the north and east — were determined well before the firm was selected in September 2003. The size was set as part of a city-approved rights swap that permits the school to develop the site of the engineering department’s former home a few blocks to the north as a commercial property.

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

Photo © Courtesy of  Roland Halbe

The development plan created an additional source of revenue for Cooper Union and simultaneously allowed replacement of aging academic facilities. In addition, construction of the new building provided an opportunity to promote interaction among the school’s various academic disciplines. “We hoped to encourage students to come together in a natural way,” says George Campbell, Jr., Cooper Union president. 

Photo © Courtesy of  Roland Halbe

Photo © Courtesy of  Roland Halbe

Morphosis responded to the desire to foster interaction by creating a vertical campus around a series of social spaces. The primary one is an amorphously shaped atrium that extends from the ground floor to a skylight on the roof. It is carved out from the center of otherwise surprisingly regular and rectilinear floor plans with offices and study lounges lined up along the building’s western edge, and instructional spaces, including engineering labs, art studios, and classrooms, along the eastern edge.

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

Photo © Courtesy of  Roland Halbe

Where the floors are open to the atrium void, a curving lattice defines the space’s limits. The geometric but fluid web of glass-fiber-reinforced gypsum over an armature of steel pipe protrudes into the entry lobby, enticing students to walk up a 20-foot-wide grand stair that connects the first four floors. On the upper floors, the atrium narrows around a segmented and spiraling stair with faceted, resin-clad balustrades illuminated from within.

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

The atrium has clearly become a lively social hub. Early in September, shortly after the building’s official opening, and just a few days into the academic year, students could be seen chatting, studying, and eating lunch on the grand stair’s landings. Others were observing the activity from upper-level balconies, or “sky bridges,” which afford views across and into the atrium and sight lines out to the city beyond.

Photo © Courtesy of  Roland Halbe

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

Part of the atrium’s appeal is its spatial complexity: It is made of overlapping surfaces and geometries that shift with every change in vantage point. But, although it is visually stimulating, the complexity doesn’t always have a corresponding functional advantage. One instance where it becomes a liability is in the vertical circulation.

Photo © Courtesy of  Roland Halbe

Photo © Courtesy of  Roland Halbe

Like several other Morphosis projects, the Cooper Union building has skip-stop, or express, elevators intended to encourage occupants to walk and to provide additional opportunities for interaction. These aims are valid. However, the system at Cooper Union seems too idiosyncratic. For example, anyone who wants to travel between levels 6 and 7 on foot, and by way of the atrium, would be unable to do so since the spiral stair has no run connecting these floors. Instead, occupants must choose between the egress stairs or the service elevator.

Photo © Courtesy of  Iwan Baan

But quirky circulation aside, 41 Cooper Square seems to hit all the right notes. It contains the vibrant spaces for informal interaction and provides the state-of-the-art educational facilities that Cooper Union required. Mayne fulfilled these client mandates without ignoring the building’s civic presence, creating a gutsy, and appropriately energetic, addition to Lower Manhattan’s urban fabric.

location diagram--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

basement 01 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

basement 02 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

level 01 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

level 02 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

level 03 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

level 04 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

level 05 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

level 06 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

level 07 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

level 08 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

level 09 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

north & west elevation--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

south & east elevation--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

section A--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

section B--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

atrium geometry diagram--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

circulation diagram--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

façade geometry diagram--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

program & sustainable strategies diagram--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

rotated atrium diagram--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

skip stop stair diagram--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

sketch--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

sketch--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

model--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

model--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

model--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

model--drawing Courtesy of  Morphosis

Gross square footage: 175,000 sq.ft. 

Total construction cost: $111,600,000 

Completion Date: June 2009

The People Owner: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art Architect: Morphosis Architects 2041 Colorado Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90404 p.310-453-2247 f.310-829-3270 Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Project Manager: Silvia Kuhle (CA Registered Architect) Project Architect Pavel Getov (CA Registered Architect) Project Designer: Chandler Ahrens (CA and GA Registered Architect) Natalia Traverso Caruana Go-Woon Seo Job Captain / Project Designer: Jean Oei Project Team: Irena Bedenikovic , Salvador Hidalgo , Marcin Kurdziel , Debbie Lin, Kristina Loock Project Assistants: Sean Anderson, Charles Austin , Dominique Cheng , Guiomar Contreras , Ben Damron , Patrick , Dunn-Baker , Graham Ferrier , Mauricio Gomez , Brock Hinze , Eui Yeob Jeong , Mark Johnson , Jennifer Kasick , Amy Kwok , Michelle Siu Lee , Shannon Loew , Mark McPhie , Greg Neudorf , Mike Patterson , Michael Sargent , Reinhard Schmoelzer , Christin To Architect of record: Morphosis Architects Associate architect(s): Gruzen Samton, LLP Owner’s Representative: Jonathan Rose Companies Interior designer: Morphosis Architects Engineer(s): Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Engineer: IBE Consulting Engineers Syska Hennessy Group, Inc Structural Engineer: John A. Martin Associates, Inc. Goldstein Associates, PLLC Civil Engineer: Langan Engineering and Environmental Services Consultant(s) Lab Consultant: Steve Rosenstein Associates, Inc Cost/ LEED: Davis Langdon Fire: ARUP Fire Theatre:  Auerbach Pollock Friedlander Lighting Designer: Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design, Inc Civil Engineer: Langan Engineering and Environmental Services Acoustics Engineer: Martin Newson & Associates, LLC Landscape: Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, PC Graphics: Pentagram Design Vertical Transportation: Van Deusen & Associates General contractor: F.J. Sciame Construction Co., Inc. Photographer(s): Iwan Baan Iwan Baan -  Photography - Books - New Media Mobile +31 (0)6 5463 0468   Fax +31 (0)84 883 1330 Studio: Portsmuiden 24 Amsterdam 1046 AJ, the Netherlands

The Products Exterior cladding Metal/glass curtainwall: Perforated metal skin fabricated by A. Zahner Company Installed by: W&W Glass, LLC Oldcastle Glass Installed by: W&W Glass, LLC Concrete: Boardformed architectural concrete Installed by: Century Maxim Other: GFRC- glass fiber reinforced concrete by Plasterform Installed by: Donaldson Acoustics LLC, INC. Roofing Built-up roofing: Siplast; American Hydrotech; All Guard Installed by: Eagle One Roofing Metal: Imetco Installed by: Eagle One Roofing Green Roof: American Hydrotech Installed by: Eagle One Roofing Harder Tree and Landscape Service Windows Steel: Interior HM steel frames, Oldcastle Glass Installed by: Weinstein & Hotlzman, W&W Glass, LLC Aluminum: EXTERIOR Oldcastle Glass Installed by: W&W Glass, LLC Glazing Glass: Viracon Installed by: W&W Glass, LLC Clerestories: W&W Glass, LLC Doors Entrances: W&W Glass, LLC Metal doors: Weinstein & Hotlzman Installed by: Donaldson Acoustics LLC, INC. Wood doors: Legere Group Sliding glass doors: W&W Glass, LLC Fire roll down shutters: Cornell Iron Installed by: GLOBAL OVERHEAD DOORS, INC Fire Hold open doors: Weinstein & Hotlzman Installed by: Donaldson Acoustics LLC, INC. Special doors: Auditorium pivot doors Installed by: Legere Group Hardware All door hardware: Weinstein & Hotlzman Installed by: Donaldson Acoustics LLC, INC. Interior finishes Wire Mesh ceiling: Simplex - Wire Mesh Installed by: Donaldson Acoustics LLC, INC. Suspension grid: Armstrong Installed by: Donaldson Acoustics LLC, INC. Metal Radiant(Ceiling) Panels: Nelson Industrial Inc, TWA, Architectural Material Resources Grid and Metal Ceiling panels installed by Donaldson Acoustics LLC, INC.; Metal Radiant Panels installed by Steamfitters Ceiling mounted operable partition (SKYFOLD partition): Modernfold/Styles Inc Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Lab casework by Advanced Lab Concepts;  custom millwork by Legere Group and Bauerschmidt & Sons Paints and stains: Benjamin Moore & Co. Installed by: EVERGREENE PAINTING STUDIOS, INC Paneling 1: Stained gray acoustical perforated maple wood by Legere Group; Paneling 2: Montana mesh by Haver & Boecker; Installed by: Donaldson Acoustics LLC, INC. Paneling 2: Resin by 3Form Installed by: Legere Group Plastic laminate: Formica Installed by: Legere Group Solid surfacing: Cesar stone and Richlite Installed by: King Hoist Special Surfacing: GFRG atrium acoustical wall by Plasterform Installed by: Donaldson Acoustics LLC, INC. Special Surfacing: GFRG (glass fiber reinforced gypsum) atrium megamesh by Cooper Plastering Corporation Installed by: Donaldson Acoustics LLC, INC. Atrium Mesh structure (under GFRG cladding): King Hoist Precast Concrete: Wausau Tile Installed by: Wilkstone LL Concrete Polishing: Industrial Floorworks Floor and wall tile: Agrob Buchtal & DSA Installed by: Baybrent Tile Corp. Carpet: Lees Carpets Installed by: Sherland & Farrington Guardrails: Xtend mesh railing Installed by: Post Road Iron Works Stainless steel sinks: Custom fabricated by Modern Arc Shades/Window Treatments: MechoShade Installed by: International Blinds Furnishings Office furniture: Knoll Fixed seating: Series Seating Chairs: Vitra, Knoll Other: B&B Italia Lighting Interior ambient lighting: Zumtobel Downlights @ Mesh Ceiling: Delray Lighting Downlights @ GWB Ceiling: Zumtobel Task lighting: Artemide Controls: Lutron, Electronic Theater Controls Conveyance Elevators: Hollister & Whitney; 3form; Ashworth Installed by: City Elevator Vertical Lift: Inclinator Company of America Installed by: City Elevator Plumbing Water fountains: Elkay Installed by: Par Plumbing Water-saving fixtures: Sloan Dual-Flush Valve, Solar Powered, Electronic Faucet Installed by: Par Plumbing Fire Sprinkler: Par Fire Mechanicals: F.W. Sims; United Sheetmetal Controls: Siemens Other: Foundations/Excavation: Urban Foundation/Engineering LLC Sidewalks: Baroco Structural Steel & Stairs: FMB Steel Misc Steel: Post Road Iron Works

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