In Pasadena, Calif., a former supersonic wind tunnel has been transformed into a new educational facility: the Mullin Transportation Design Center (MTDC) at ArtCenter College of Design.
Designed by Darin Johnstone Architects (DJA) and built by Del Amo Construction, the MTDC supports ArtCenter’s transportation design program—known for the design of the split-window Corvette, the modern Mini, and the Ferrari F-430. The building provides access for full-scale vehicular models, replicating a professional design studio environment.
Almost doubling the wind tunnel’s effective square footage, DJA’s design converts the barrel-vaulted, 43-ft-high space to hold 31,000 sf of specialized creative labs, large-scale makerspaces, classrooms, exhibition areas, studios, and offices. The vehicle-intensive spaces facilitate design, research, and experimentation.
MTDC includes a 1,533-sf flex lecture space; three creative labs totaling 7,000sf; five 1,100-sf undergraduate studio classrooms; three graduate studio classrooms ranging from 1,100 to 1,600 sf; three 550-sf general conference rooms; 1,000 sf of administrative spaces; and about 10,700 sf of galleries and exhibition areas as well as informal gathering areas and circulation space.
Large-scale design projects can be showcased in the new gallery and exhibition spaces as well as a hovering mezzanine. The hovering elements nod to the building’s aeronautic history. MTDC also was designed to serve as a pedestrian passthrough and focal point connecting all of the buildings on ArtCenter’s South Campus.
Originally, the 85-ft by 220-ft MTDC space was home to a supersonic wind tunnel commissioned in 1945 and operated by Caltech as a testing facility for aerospace manufacturers. In 1953, it became a testing facility for General Motors’ automobile designs. Other testing followed for missiles, torpedoes, and parachutes, among other objects.
Adjacent to the wind tunnel space, a portion of the building was renovated to hold the recently completed, DJA-designed Mobility Experience Lab by Genesis, Hyundai & Kia. Dedicated to research and design, the 3,400-sf lab explores the user experience.
MTDC is on track to achieve LEED certification.
On the Building Team:
Architect: Darin Johnstone Architects
Structural engineer: Labib Funk + Associates
MEP engineer: Novus Design Studio
Lighting designer: KGM Lighting
Acoustical engineer: Antonio Acoustics
General contractor: Del Amo Construction
Related Stories
University Buildings | Jun 26, 2023
Addition by subtraction: The value of open space on higher education campuses
Creating a meaningful academic and student life experience on university and college campuses does not always mean adding a new building. A new or resurrected campus quad, recreational fields, gardens, and other greenspaces can tie a campus together, writes Sean Rosebrugh, AIA, LEED AP, HMC Architects' Higher Education Practice Leader.
Standards | Jun 26, 2023
New Wi-Fi standard boosts indoor navigation, tracking accuracy in buildings
The recently released Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11az enables more refined and accurate indoor location capabilities. As technology manufacturers incorporate the new standard in various devices, it will enable buildings, including malls, arenas, and stadiums, to provide new wayfinding and tracking features.
Engineers | Jun 14, 2023
The high cost of low maintenance
Walter P Moore’s Javier Balma, PhD, PE, SE, and Webb Wright, PE, identify the primary causes of engineering failures, define proactive versus reactive maintenance, recognize the reasons for deferred maintenance, and identify the financial and safety risks related to deferred maintenance.
University Buildings | Jun 14, 2023
Calif. State University’s new ‘library-plus’ building bridges upper and lower campuses
A three-story “library-plus” building at California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) that ties together the upper and lower campuses was recently completed. The 100,977-sf facility, known as the Collaborative Opportunities for Research & Engagement (“CORE”) Building, is one of the busiest libraries in the CSU system. The previous library served 1.2 million visitors annually.
Higher Education | Jun 14, 2023
Designing higher education facilities without knowing the end users
A team of architects with Page offers five important factors to consider when designing spaces for multiple—and potentially changing—stakeholders.
University Buildings | Jun 9, 2023
Cornell’s new information science building will foster dynamic exchange of ideas and quiet, focused research
Construction recently began on Cornell University’s new 135,000-sf building for the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science (Cornell Bowers CIS). The structure will bring together the departments of Computer Science, Information Science, and Statistics and Data Science for the first time in one complex.
Student Housing | Jun 5, 2023
The power of student engagement: How on-campus student housing can increase enrollment
Studies have confirmed that students are more likely to graduate when they live on campus, particularly when the on-campus experience encourages student learning and engagement, writes Design Collaborative's Nathan Woods, AIA.
K-12 Schools | May 30, 2023
K-12 school sector trends for 2023
Budgeting and political pressures aside, the K-12 school building sector continues to evolve. Security remains a primary objective, as does offering students more varied career options.
K-12 Schools | May 22, 2023
The revival of single-building K-12 schools
Schools that combine grades PK through 12 are suddenly not so uncommon. Education sector experts explain why.
K-12 Schools | May 17, 2023
Designing K-12 schools for students and safety
While bullying, mental health, and other acts of violence are all too common in schools today, designers have shown that smart and subtle preventive steps can make a big difference. Clark Nexsen’s Becky Brady shares how prevention and taking action at the design level can create safe and engaging learning environments.
