Bechtel Conference Center at PPIC in San Francisco, California by Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

Article source: Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

The Bechtel Conference Center is designed to communicate the values of The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), a San-Francisco-based think-tank dedicated to public policy decision-making through nonpartisan research and dialogue. The Center, located on the ground floor of PPIC’s downtown San Francisco office building, reflects the organization’s ideals of openness and cooperative communication.

Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

• Architects: Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects
• Project: Bechtel Conference Center at PPIC
• Location: San Francisco, California, USA
• Software used: For the wood fin geometry in the conference center, used Rhino at the concept phase to quickly study different forms. Then used AutoCAD to develop the design and create profile for each one of the 297 pieces for production.

Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

The project’s central element, a circular “Forum” for speaking events, literally embodies PPIC’s inclusive, “no taking sides” approach. Though the cylindrical space offers both the advantages of functional flexibility and an apt philosophical metaphor, it created the technical need to counteract the undesirable acoustical distortion that naturally occurs in circular rooms. The acoustical engineers initially warned that this challenge was virtually impossible to overcome.

Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

Undeterred, the architects collaborated with the acoustical engineer, the contractor, and an independent industrial fabricator to develop an innovative system of individually cut plywood fins that both diffuse sound waves and creates a compelling architectural image.

Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

The unique fin shapes were designed to achieve both the acoustical objectives set by the engineer and the undulating sculptural effect envisioned by the architect. Milled to the designers’ exact specifications using CNC technology, the completed fins were installed along the Forum’s perimeter walls and ceiling with a system of custom stringers.

Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

The spaces between the fins were lined with an acoustic substrate to create variation in the walls’ acoustical absorption and the wood fin surfaces reflect sound waves in a deliberately random fashion, and most critically, away from the center of the room.

Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

Two bespoke lecterns were designed for the Forum and customized for PPIC’s technical requirements. The Center’s less formal meeting venue with windows to the park across the street is the “Salon”; a green room, a kitchen servery, and storage space are ancillary spaces for the Forum and the Salon.

Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

The Bechtel Center achieved LEED Gold certification and Title 24 energy efficiency goals through the specification of recycled and low VOC materials, energy efficient lighting and equipment, and a computer-based system for monitoring and controlling building performance.

Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

Floor Plan : Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

Acoustical Wood Fin Detail Section : Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

Section : Image Courtesy Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

Tags: California, USA

Categories: Autocad, Conference Center, Rhino

This entry was posted on Friday, November 30th, 2012 at 12:21 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.