1. VIRTUAL CASE STUDY: GALEF
CENTER FOR FINE ARTS, OTIS
COLLEGE
LINCOLN BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA,
US
-SHAMEEN KHAN, SHEILJA SINGH, TAIYABA RASHID
B.ARCH (DAY) III YEAR 2013-14
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2. LOS ANGELES
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3. • Location: LINCOLN BOULEVARD, LOS
ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US.
• Climate Type: Temperate
 Temperature: AH: 24°C , AL: 10°C
 Rainfall: 380mm
 Wind Direction: From the West
• Soil type: San Joaquin
• Orientation: West facing
• Area of site: 4-acres
• Area of building: 3716 sq. m. (40,000 sq. ft.)
• Approach Road: Lincoln Boulevard
• Architects: Frederick Fisher and Partners
• Duration of construction: 17 months
• Completion: 2001
• Goal: To create enduring spaces that inspire
spirited exchanges between students and
faculty, as well as create a sense of campus
community and pride.
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4. SPACES
FIRST FLOOR.
• Group and individual
studios for painting,
sculpture,
photography and
new genres;
• Workshops;
• Classrooms;
• Two art galleries;
• Faculty offices.
SECOND FLOOR.
• Art
production,
exhibitions,
special events
and casual
gatherings
• An enclosed
glass-walled
outdoor
courtyard in
the centre.
USABLE AREA
SERVICES
CIRCULATION
ADMINISTRATION
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5. SITE PLAN
• The building’s orientation on the site — angled with respect to the
existing building and adjacent boulevard — establishes three main
triangular outdoor areas.
• The new Galef Center is rotated on the site away from the main
boulevard to create spaces for courtyards, informal gathering places
and landscaped areas.
• The building is positioned parallel to the adjacent boulevard. This
spatial angular relationship between the original and new structures
establishes areas that extend the functions of the building into the
landscape, creating an entry plaza, outdoor work area, and an
outdoor exhibition space. The large, open work areas foster creativity
and artistic expression.
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7. FIRST FLOOR PLAN
• First floor studios feature gallery-quality daylight and air circulation due to
skylights, sliding glass doors and large windows, as well as positioning directly
adjacent to open courtyards and landscaping.
• The first floor studios all have a connection to the outdoors through the use of
large windows, sliding glass doors and roll-up metal doors. These open, unlimited
spaces allow for students to be inspired by the activities taking place outside as
well as inside.
• The overlapping programming of studios, classrooms, galleries and administrative
areas promotes creative interchanges between related academia. For example,
the critique room is connected to the drawing and painting studios. The sculpture
and foundation rooms are adjacent to each other.
• Additionally, the student gallery is located across from the gallery that exhibits
traveling shows. This relationship offers students exposure to and inspiration
from professional level artwork.
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9. Foundation
Studio
First floor studios feature large
windows and sliding glass doors
that create an indoor/outdoor
connection and offer students
natural light and air circulation.
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10. Second Floor
As with the first floor, second floor studios
and classrooms are interconnected to foster
efficient art production and academic
exchange.
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11. Section
s
Skylights and light
wells allow for
diffused light to
enter studio
workspaces and
galleries,
improving the
quality of art
production and
exhibition.
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12. VERTICAL CIRCULATION
• External staircases and a glass-enclosed elevator tower provide a
dynamic counterpoint to the flattened, collage-like elevations.
• The placement of the elevator and stairs on the exterior of the
building, versus the typical placement on the building’s interior, free
up critical space that was allotted to academic programming.
• Additionally, the stair tower offers a focal point and gathering place
for the campus’ courtyard plaza, which connects the new building
with the existing structure. Students use the large, wide stairs
attached to the tower for socializing and informal meetings.
• Art installations and functions take place on the landing of the tower.
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13. The landing of the west stair tower
offers a detailed view of the studio's
aluminium skin, and a view of the
original campus structure in the
distance.
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14. APPEARANCE
• The building is sheathed in silver-painted corrugated aluminium. This
visually active material, which reflects the sky and landscape, is
selected for its reference to industrial structures.
• Each of the building’s four elevations has its own distinct graphic
composition, reflecting the varied modes of art production occurring
on the inside of the building.
• Large expanses of glass open up the metal cube to daylight and views,
creating abstract patterns of solid and void on the building’s surface.
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15. EXTERIOR
The two-storey art
studio building was
designed as an 'art
factory' to maximize
flexibility and economy.
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16. ARCHITECTURAL CHARCTERISTICS
• The studio is fully digitally wired, and complies with LEED Green building
standards.
• Enhanced learning could be achieved through four key design concepts:
flexibility in use; site orientation; overlapping programming and multi-
disciplinary use of the building.
• The project’s square floor plan affords maximum flexibility of use and efficiency
inside and out.
• The structure is on a 9-square grid requiring only four internal structural
columns, allowing the walls to act as movable partitions, and providing large,
flexible spaces for display.
• The plan and structural elements allow for spaces to be used interchangeably
as studios, classrooms or ad hoc display areas. This flexibility allows for
maximum use of the building today, as well as for future modes of art making.
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17. • The idea to provide a resource for non-art students and faculty, is achieved
through physically and visually connecting the new building to the existing
campus architecture.
• The two structures on campus now share a central courtyard as well as traffic
flow. Additionally, an aesthetic modification to a portion of the fenestration of
the existing building symbolically connects the old with the new.
• Light and temperate climate are key design features of the structure.
• Floor to ceiling glazing, glass panelled flooring, skylights, first floor courtyards and
a second story patio all create varied patterns of daylight and fresh air.
• The skylights flood light through both levels of the building, and vertically and
visually connect the spaces.
• These design elements offer students natural air circulation, vertical and
horizontal sight relations, views of outside activities, and those outdoors a
glimpse of activity inside.
• In consideration of views from the existing adjacent 7-story campus structure, the
roof of the new studio building was conceived as an important “fifth façade” that
is as visually dynamic as the vertical elevations. A self enclosed patio, varied
materials and skylights offer visual interest when seen from above. 17

18. COSTS
• Total Cost:
$ 5,000,000
• Building Cost:
$ 5,000,000
• Site Cost:
$ 682,238
• Cost PSF:
$ 125
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21. CONCLUSIONS
• The basic idea of the project is to accommodate the required number of students
in its fine arts faculty.
• The structure responds to its urban context and specific site conditions in its
relation to the existing campus architecture and proximity to the adjacent
boulevard.
• Spaces are arranged to optimize the interaction among students and faculties.
• There is an interplay of light and shadow due to huge glass panels and sky lights.
• The appearance of the building w.r.t the fifth façade dimension is adhered to.
• The building reflects art-making practices in its factory-like construction and
appearance.
• Its materials and structure — a perfect square with only four internal structural
columns — are economical, flexible and efficient. 21

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