UPDATE: Three teams have been selected to move forward in the competition: Allied Works Architecture (Portland/New York), Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (New York), and the team of Patkau Architects (Vancouver, B.C.) and Fong & Chan Architects (San Francisco). The finalists will present their proposals April 3 and a winner will be announced shortly after.
Seven high-profile teams have been shortlisted to design a new research, museum and performing arts center for the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). Planned for a stunning site overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the $32 million project is intended to be “an innovative educational experiment” that will “blur the lines between disciplines to beautiful effect.” The shortlist ranges from Steven Holl to Tod Williams Billies Tsien. The complete list of competitors, after the break.
- Aidlin Darling Design
- Allied Works Architecture
- Fong & Chan Architects with Patkau Architects
- Jensen Architects with Ann Hamilton
- Steven Holl Architects with TannerHecht Architecture
- Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects with TEF
- wHY design
“The desire to have something like this has been around for a very long time, but it came into focus in the last couple of years,” stated institute director John Weber. “The vision is to engage the issues of our time through the arts, sciences, humanities and technology based on research here at UC Santa Cruz and bringing in material that complements and pushes what’s going on here.”
In addition to the museum, performance and teaching facilities, the Institute will offer research residences, meeting and study spaces, as well as a 120-person seminar room and cafe. Access will be made available through a network pathways and the construction of a pedestrian bridge, which will be designed as part of the overall commission.
A public presentation of the final three proposals will be conducted in early April. A projected completion date has yet to be determined and is, according to Weber, contingent on funding.
