Project name: Design and Media Center, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Project location: Boston
Firm name: Ennead Architects
Jury comments: Sited on a dense urban block comprised of a wide range of buildings from different eras, this new academic arts center is built upon the historic foundations of an early 20th century structure. There are fantastic urban design moments. In a dramatic shift from the opacity of the original building, the center presents a transparent face to the city that invites a beautiful spilling of daylight. A choreographed sequence of ramps and stairs, while arguable from an aesthetic perspective, celebrate universal access and usher visitors into a memorable triple-height atrium. Above the atrium, a series of skylights further animate the interior with light. This dynamic facility very successfully creates a public presence for an institution that has suffered for a lack of it.
