Talley Student Center Renovations II: Exterior Design

The architect of Talley renovations, Turan Duda does an excellent job integrating the design of the new building to impress from many different vantage points as well as designing the building so that it seamlessly blends in with the surroundings.

Figure 2.1

Turan Duda takes advantages of the curved slope to allow the glass facade to stand out; it also allows people in that building to take a panoramic view of the street around them. The function of the glass corner balcony also shows a intelligent use of space to allow the building to appear bigger. Also, the glass balcony allows natural sunlight to provide adequate sunlight during winter seasons. Across from the corner balcony is an actual outdoor balcony that allows students to relax outdoors.

Figure 2.2

The enclosing space created by the building makes a very pleasant courtyard where students can enjoy books and chat. As mentioned earlier, this is where the contrast between jagged edges, square design and curves create a striking effect. The jagged edges on the southwest portion of Figure 2.2 seems to radiate out to the pathway, but that radical design is balanced by the upper square floors. These two elements dominate the southern portion of the building, but the northern portion is dominated by the curve, which elegantly curves northward to establish a a counterbalance in the opposite direction of the southern part. It is through this effect that allows the building to surround the courtyard. Along with the trees, this creates an unique space that makes the building pleasant to observe from a distance yet still magnanimous enough to give the building the illusion of bigger space.