the glass clad building allows you to see the staggered floors
image courtesy of diller scofidio + renfro

the creative arts center at brown university in providence, rhode island is set for completion in 2010.
designed by diller scofidio + renfro, the centre is a 36,000 square foot building which will include
a 200 seat recital hall, 35mm screening facility, recording studio, multimedia lab, gallery space
and large multi-purpose production studios. following the loft typology in its design, the centre is
composed of large uninterrupted floor plates with interior surfaces ranging from raw to refined.
three main floor plates fill the site envelope, which are cut along a sheer line and displaced in sections
to create six half levels, each with different technical and physical properties. the structural misalignment
allows each floor to interface two others, conjoined by a glass wall.

the landscape sheers, half inclined toward the lobby entrance and partially descending along the
rake of the recital hall. students and passersby are invited into this outdoor theatre to watch
performances on stage or screen.


the sheered floors of each level
image courtesy of diller scofidio + renfro


the three floor plates are cut and displaced into six half levels
image courtesy of diller scofidio + renfro


a graphic diagram of the split levels
image courtesy of diller scofidio + renfro


interior surfaces range from raw exposed wood to refined
image courtesy of diller scofidio + renfro


image courtesy of diller scofidio + renfro


glass walls and exterior allow passerbys and students to watch performances going on in the centre
image courtesy of diller scofidio + renfro


image courtesy of diller scofidio + renfro