Brick Bridges the Gap Between Traditional Design and Modern Tech
/Brick is unmatched among building materials that can build on a traditional aesthetic character while also embracing modern construction technology. That unique characteristic is part of what paved the way to success for the designers at HDR Inc. when designing the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Maryland campus.
At the onset of the project, the design team faced a challenge that is increasingly familiar to practicing architects — to create a new, state-of-the-art building that will support modern uses while allowing it to build on design themes already present at a historic university campus. While that challenge is familiar, it is by no means easy to overcome. Doing so requires designers to make tactful and tasteful decisions throughout the design process, not the least of which is selecting the ideal material palette.
The University of Maryland campus is over 150 years old and has become well-known for its prominent neo-Georgian style buildings as well as subtler historical accents such as brick knee walls and arched entry gates, all of which embody the school’s rich heritage. As the campus has expanded, and as is common on college campuses everywhere, newer buildings have attempted to acknowledge the previous traditional style while incorporating contemporary designs and modern techniques, some with more success than others. This non-committal approach has sometimes resulted in new buildings with perfunctory ornamental structures that attempt to mimic neo-Georgian forms.
This is where the design of the Brendan Iribe Center broke the mold. Designers at HBR Inc. committed fully to brick as the common tie with more classic designs on campus, but took the building’s form in an entirely new direction — a dual role only brick can manage. This is best seen in Antonov Auditorium, which is the primary feature of the Iribe Center’s exterior.
Antonov Auditorium consists entirely of Maryland brick manufactured by Glen-Gery and distributed by Potomac Valley. These brick units follow a pattern of curving and overlapping forms that are easily visible both inside and outside of the auditorium. Meanwhile, the color and texture of the brick make it the perfect material to ground the building in its location while harkening back to the classic brick facades found elsewhere on campus.
Ultimately, the brick that makes up Antonov Auditorium contributes to a design expression that truly symbolizes the purpose of the building itself. The abstract patterns and flowing lines that came about through parametric modeling represent the flow of information and knowledge that takes place within. One might not typically associate brick with “flowing,” but the masterful implementation of HBR’s design by skilled masons leaves one asking, “What can’t brick do?”
All photos by Donna Chiarelli.
