exteriors
PROJECT
The recent installation of a large screen on a building façade at the Cleveland Institute of Art offers a creative outlet for students.
Digital Façades Rework Academic Buildings Academic buildings on both sides of the Atlantic are turned into contemporary media showcases.
A
stainless-steel, wire-mesh façade interwoven
quences created by students. A Mediamesh transparent
stall the material with minimal disruption to the students
with LED lights has transformed two academ-
media façade was ultimately selected and provides unhin-
and faculty.” In addition to the display, GKD manufac-
ic buildings, one in Cleveland, OH, the other
dered views of the outside surroundings from the build-
tured and installed the steel framework that supports the
in Copenhagen, Denmark, into contemporary showcas-
ing’s interior. Moreover, it allows daylight to penetrate the
fabric as well as the electrical wiring.
es for digital media.
façade, providing natural light for occupants.
One of the most interesting elements of the display
Originally founded in 1882 as the Western Reserve
One of the project’s biggest challenges was installing
was the engineering challenge faced when installing the
School of Design for Women, the Cleveland Institute of
the façade while school was in session. The installation
display on a movable building. The building was original-
Art (CIA) is now one of America’s leading art and design
team was cautious, ensuring occupant protection was in
ly a Ford assembly plant until purchased by the Institute
academies. In a complex expansion project spanning two
place throughout the process. Another challenge was the
in 1981. The building features movable floor slabs that
years, the George Gund building was joined to the Joseph
project’s site. Located on an active roadway, it created lim-
once allowed the Ford Model T’s access to the train tracks
McCullough Center for the Visual Arts and now forms a
ited site access and a small working area. GKD installers
behind the structure. With the building’s movable fea-
single entity. The recent installation of the large GKD,
were able to work with the material without damaging the
tures, the display is supported by top anchors to let the
Cambridge, MD, Mediamesh screen on the façade of the
product or disrupting the students.
building retain its original, signature style. The engineers
new building offers a creative outlet for up-and-coming artists while transforming the historical building.
According to Mike Leonard, GKD’s technical director
overcame the challenge by creating dead-load anchors at
for Mediamesh, “The material was shipped on site as
the top of the building that hold the weight of the display.
The university worked closely with the architects at
needed, so no site storage was required. This was essential
Leonard added that GKD was specified because of the
Stantec, Cleveland, who sought a contemporary form of
when working with limited site access. We also worked off
transparent nature of Mediamesh since it was going to be
digital media to display graphics, photos, and video se-
hours to avoid student testing times. Our goal was to in-
used over glazing. As the building evolved, a large portion
58
COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE
JUNE 2017
commercialarchitecturemagazine.com
