Studio Gang completes two new education and research projects

Studio Gang has further cemented its place on the international architecture scene – particularly in the area of university buildings – with two new education and research projects: the expansion of the California College of the Arts campus in San Francisco and the new John W. Boyer Center at the University of Chicago in Paris.

Both projects reveal the studio’s ability to design environments for students that combine sustainability, innovation, and meaningful dialogue with the cultural and urban contexts. Although different in scale and function, both reflect the distinctive approach of the studio, founded by Jeanne Gang, in creating spaces that foster interdisciplinary collaboration, social interaction, and respect for the environment.

The John W. Boyer Center of the University of Chicago, Paris

In Paris, the University of Chicago’s John W. Boyer Center is a new European benchmark for education and research. Located on the Rive Gauche, the 2365 m² building is part of a new complex that includes a mixed-use residential complex designed by PARC Architectes.

By way of an homage to the Parisian architectural tradition, the façade is covered with 900 cylindrical Lutetian limestone elements that function as a brise soleil. There are more of these elements in the private research areas to provide greater privacy, with fewer in the common areas to create connections between spaces.

Also used in the main buildings of the Chicago campus, this material creates a symbolic link between the two cities, while responding to contemporary needs for sustainability and climate performance.

A vertical campus to promote exchange

The nerve center of the project is its central atrium, conceived as a “vertical campus.” Flooded with natural light, this open space creates visual and functional connections between the different teaching, research, and social spaces. The building houses nine classrooms, including a teaching laboratory and a research institute for visiting academics.

At ground level, outdoor common spaces include a courtyard garden, a loggia, and a series of terraces, providing ideal places to socialize, study, and relax. Upstairs, an event space, with an adjoining rooftop garden, offers sweeping views of the city, making it an ideal venue for events and gatherings.

Inside the building, a large amphitheater can be configured to accommodate lectures, conferences, or large classes, providing a versatile space for academic and cultural activities.

Sustainability and urban connections

The John W. Boyer Center fosters interaction between the university community and Parisians through its integration with a regional train station that provides direct connections to the rest of the city.

The environmental measures incorporated into the project include the use of mass timber from France and Austria for the structure, and locally sourced stone for the brise-soleil, both reducing the carbon footprint. Planted with native species, the outdoor spaces encourage biodiversity, while natural ventilation and photovoltaic panels on the roof both improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on mechanical systems.

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The expansion of the California College of the Arts campus in San Francisco

In San Francisco, Studio Gang recently completed the expansion of the California College of the Arts (CCA) campus, a project that encourages interaction between different artistic disciplines while strengthening ties between the college and the local arts community by providing a space for collaboration.

Founded in the early 20th century, CCA is today a center of excellence that offers courses in 34 art and design disciplines, ranging from jewelry and ceramics to textiles, architecture, and animation. With its 7650 m² of floorspace, the building was conceived as a creative ecosystem where different art and design disciplines can interact, overlap, and stimulate students.

Functional design and flexible spaces

The reinforced concrete ground level houses laboratories and flexible open spaces, designed so students can share materials and equipment, and, therefore, encourage interaction between different fields. Two large courtyards provide extra workspaces, while allowing natural light to fill the interiors.

Emerging from the concrete base, two pavilions with braced mass timber frames house classrooms, art studios, and the new home of the Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts. Both pavilions have large balconies that enable exterior circulation and provide more multipurpose spaces.

A commitment to sustainability

The use of mass timber not only contributes to the natural aesthetics and design of the building, but also reflects a commitment to sustainability. Combined with minimal finishes, the hybrid timber structure has reduced the building’s carbon footprint to almost half that of a conventional construction.

Also, self-shading façades and night-flush ventilation cool the building naturally, further reducing energy consumption.

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