Photo by Henry Cabala
Best Higher Education/Research Project: Kravis Center at Claremont McKenna College

Kravis Center at Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, Calif.  Region ENR California

Project Team

Owner Claremont McKenna College

Architect Rafael Viñoly Architects PC, New York City

General Contractor Bernards, San Fernando, Calif.

Engineers Andreasen Engineering, Pomona, Calif.; Nabih Youssef & Assoc., Los Angeles; IBE Consulting Engineers, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Using a striking design by prominent architect Rafael Viñoly, the $56-million, 169,000-sq-ft academic and administration complex on the campus of a private liberal-arts college in eastern Los Angeles has remastered the notion of a world-class building. Earning LEED Silver, the Kravis Center structure is cast-in-place concrete and post-tension cable with a footprint over five levels, one of which is underground. One of the key design elements is the so-called Living Room, which manifests Viñoly's concept of transparency with a 40-sq-ft perimeter composed of eight 13-ft-tall sheer panels.