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Trends of the Trade Pelli Clarke Pelli-Designed Computing Center Opens at UT Austin
The GDC complex comprises two buildings connected by a large glass atrium.
schulershook.com
76 Texas Architect
5/6 2013
two buildings connected by a large glass atrium, and contains nearly 24,000 sf of instructional space and 20,000 sf for research. Wide bridges crossing the atrium include study lounges with links to outdoor terraces, and the center’s ten research clusters each have glass-walled laboratories surrounded by offices and discussion areas. Artwork was selected for the project as part of UT Austin’s public art program and includes Sol LeWitt’s “Circle with Towers,” which has been placed at the front of the complex. “The open design and spectacular light and architectural features of the Gates Dell Complex create an inspiring environment for computer science researchers, faculty, students, and staff,” stated Pat Clubb, vice president for University Operations. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured a talk by Bill Gates — and a welcome by an intelligent robot proclaiming the University’s celebrated motto, “What starts here changes the world.” The complex comprises
GDC PHOTO BY PAUL FINKEL, COURTESY UT COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES
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On March 6, The Bill & Melinda Gates Computer Science Complex and Dell Computer Science Hall (GDC), a state-of-the-art computing center designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, opened at the University of Texas at Austin. The 232,000-sf GDC is the new home of the University’s Computer Science Department, which is known for its work in cybersecurity, computer systems, artificial intelligence, and robotics.