PROJECT Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art
LOCATION Raleigh, NC
PROJECT COMPLETION DATE 12/1/2015
PROJECT CATEGORY Undergraduate / Upper Level Design
PROJECT TYPE Studio
ENTRANT Courtney Richeson
TEAM MEMBERS
SCHOOL North Carolina State University
FACULTY SPONSOR Matthew Griffith, Adjunct Faculty Member / School of Architecture
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
CAM Raleigh currently offers art programs to primary and secondary level students and the community. In order to expand these offerings and establish a higher education curriculum, CAM is embarking on the design and construction of a new art institute in Downtown Raleigh, the Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art. RICA will serve as a regional hub for art research, education, and will offer BA and MFA degrees in several disciplines.
The RICA facility will house all research and education components for CAM. These include archive facilities and art laboratories, a library for books, folios, periodicals, and an extensive digital image database, classrooms for lecture courses, studios for painting, drawing, printmaking, urban art, and new media, critique spaces, a large lecture hall, and galleries for the display of work. The building will also house faculty and staff offices and all necessary support infrastructure for the operation of the facility.
STUDENT'S STATEMENT
Concept: Connecting Art + Process to the Urban Context
The scheme for this project is primarily driven by the unique features of the site and attempts to establish a connection between the activity of the interior and the urban context. A railway runs along the western edge of the site and begins to bridge over North Street as the topography drops approximately 14 feet from south to north. This is reflected in the façade, which consists of corrugated perforated metal panels that have been raised from the gallery floor such that a pedestrian on the street would be able to see through the building to the train beyond. A large void in the screen creates a display plane that allows pedestrians to view art on movable panels and provides a glimpse into the process of creating art.
The Institute is comprised of two volumes; the large skeletal volume contains the library, studio spaces, and gallery. The smaller more opaque volume contains the lecture hall, admin spaces, and the classrooms. The two volumes have been arranged to appear as if they slid past one another, creating a fore court at the main entrance and a larger sculpture garden.
The process of making begins with learning, is followed by making, and ends with the final product. The program is arranged in section to reflect this process. The library, which is the primary learning space, is located at the top floor. This is followed by three floors of production spaces, housing the studios and critique spaces. The gallery is located on the first floor where the students' final products are revealed. These parts of program are connected by a monumental stair. This movement through process spaces further establishes the connection between the building’s occupants, their art, and the street experience.
IMAGE CAPTIONS & CREDITS
IMAGE 1: Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art, View from Street, by Courtney Richeson
IMAGE 2: Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art, View from Street, by Courtney Richeson
IMAGE 3: Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art, Longitudinal Section, by Courtney Richeson
IMAGE 4: Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art, Site Map, by Courtney Richeson
IMAGE 5: Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art, Plan, by Courtney Richeson
IMAGE 6: Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art, View of Sculpture Garden, by Courtney Richeson
IMAGE 7: Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art, 1/16" model, by Courtney Richeson
MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art
Category
AIA Maryland Student Design Awards > Undergraduate > Undergraduate / Upper Level Design
Winner Status
- AIA Maryland: Undergraduate / Upper Level Design - DESIGN AWARD
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