GSB building models on display at Chicago Architecture Foundation

The Chicago Architecture Foundation has opened a new exhibition featuring the design competition submissions for the University Graduate School of Business.

The foundation is displaying six models submitted by the competing firms of Kohn, Pedersen, Fox Associates; Pei, Cobb, Freed and Partners; Perkins and Will; Poryphrios Associates; Rafael Moneo Arquitecto; and Rafael Viñoly Architects.

The exhibition, “A Place in History: Design in the Context of Architectural Icons,” is open to the public seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday, June 10, at 224 S. Michigan Ave.

“We’ve received a great deal of interest in this exhibition from both the general public and architects,” said Zurich Esposito, who is coordinating the exhibition for the Chicago Architecture Foundation. “People always enjoy comparing differences among design approaches.”

With the recommendation of the architect selection committee for the GSB, the University Board of Trustees and President Sonnenschein approved Rafael Viñoly Architects earlier this year. Architect Rafael Viñoly, who has since described his design conception several times to campus audiences, will give a presentation at the Chicago Architecture Foundation at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 16. To reserve a seat for this presentation, please call (312) 922-3432, ext. 909.

“In addition to creating high-quality designs, Rafael Viñoly is well-known for using an interactive design process, openly sharing information and responsibility and building consensus,” said Robert Hamada, Dean of the Graduate School of Business and the Edward Eagle Brown Distin-guished Service Professor of Finance in the GSB.

“He also is known for his responsiveness to the surrounding environment while refusing to imitate a particular architectural style. These are some of the elements the selection committee was looking for in a design architect.”

Among the factors the committee evaluated in selecting an architect were design approach and creativity; ability to understand the graduate school and its program requirements; thoughtful relationship to the neighboring landmarks; ability to work within a university environment; relevant team experience; and ability to design within budget parameters.

Committee members included Hamada; Andrew Alper, University Trustee; Blair Archambeau, GSB staff representative; Robert Danielson, GSB student representative; Gary Eppen, Deputy Dean of the GSB; Robert Gertner, Professor of Economics and Strategy in the GSB; Curt Heuring, University Architect; Meredith Mack, Director of Facilities Services; Dennis Keller, University Trustee; Andrew Rosenfield, University Trustee; Richard Saller, Dean of the Social Sciences Division; Geoffrey Stone, Provost; Katherine Fischer Taylor, Associate Professor in Art History; Hank Webber, Vice President of Community Affairs; and Patricia Woodworth, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

The new structure, which will replace the Woodward Court residence hall at 58th Street and Woodlawn Avenue, will be one of the last construction projects on the main campus that is part of the University’s Campus Master Plan. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2001.