Monday, January 26, 2009
Crown Hall
Crown Hall houses the College of Architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology located in Chicago.
Built in 1950, designed by Mies van der Rohe, Crown Hall is a prime example of the modernist movement. The building is constructed with an exposed steel frame filled with varying transparencies of glass. The structure of the building is on the outside of the building, with the roof suspended from the bottom of four steel girders and steel columns surrounding the exterior walls. The building consists of two floors, one partially below grade containing offices, lounge areas, classrooms, workshops, and mechanical areas. The main level is completely open with the except of few walls. Studio spaces, classrooms, and exhibition areas are defined by partition walls which can be moved to accommodate different needs. There are no columns on this floor, and the partition walls do not reach the entire height of the ceiling, so the space is very open, encourging creativeness and communication among students.
Mies van der Rohe's intentions with the design of Crown Hall was to let space define the building, rather than architecture elements and structure. He called it a "universal space" and intended it to be entirely flexible depending on what the students and other users of the building needed it to be.
Crown Hall recently underwent major renovations both interior and exterior. It has been named a National Historic Landmark as well as a City Landmark in Chicago.
Built in 1950, designed by Mies van der Rohe, Crown Hall is a prime example of the modernist movement. The building is constructed with an exposed steel frame filled with varying transparencies of glass. The structure of the building is on the outside of the building, with the roof suspended from the bottom of four steel girders and steel columns surrounding the exterior walls. The building consists of two floors, one partially below grade containing offices, lounge areas, classrooms, workshops, and mechanical areas. The main level is completely open with the except of few walls. Studio spaces, classrooms, and exhibition areas are defined by partition walls which can be moved to accommodate different needs. There are no columns on this floor, and the partition walls do not reach the entire height of the ceiling, so the space is very open, encourging creativeness and communication among students.
Mies van der Rohe's intentions with the design of Crown Hall was to let space define the building, rather than architecture elements and structure. He called it a "universal space" and intended it to be entirely flexible depending on what the students and other users of the building needed it to be.
Crown Hall recently underwent major renovations both interior and exterior. It has been named a National Historic Landmark as well as a City Landmark in Chicago.
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