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summer 2013

We are pleased to present our summer 2013 issue of evolution, a seasonal journal. This issue focuses on cross-cultural dialogue.

You may click on the links below to skip to the feature you are interested in.

emerging: Cultural Intelligence: Expanding a Global Dialogue

posting: a clipboard of recent and forthcoming engagements of the firm and its individuals

emerging

Cultural Intelligence: Expanding a Global Dialogue

Shanghai Tech

This year presents a transformative milestone for Moore Ruble Yudell with the establishment of our new office in Shanghai—an expansion that reflects our evolving commitment not only to practice in the Pacific Region, but to a continuing process of learning and exchange through international work.

Our world population recently hit seven billion. With this growth come accelerating challenges to the environment, infrastructure, housing and all forms of social institutions. At the same time, cultures, places, and economies are profoundly interconnected. The old cliché ‘What does it have to do with the price of eggs in China?’ is no longer rhetorical. As architects, we and our clients are intimately involved in the crosscurrents of change brought on by globalization.

In over thirty years of practice we have found cultural cross-fertilization to be a benefit for all participants, whether working on a local library, a campus laboratory, or master planning for a whole campus or city. 

In the 1980's we were able to advance our knowledge of sustainable architecture though working in Germany and Sweden. We, in turn, were able to export to those clients a sensitivity to place and diversity in housing, which was highly valued by the inhabitants.

In Japan, during the same period, we learned a heightened respect for the nuances of materiality and craft, while sharing techniques of team collaboration, which our clients found inspiring.

During the past decade we have been privileged to explore both architecture and master planning in Asia. These opportunities have allowed us to bring our knowledge and expertise to a diverse array of site and building types, including:

Large scale ecological planning
This scale of integrated planning allows for bringing new technologies and synergies to sustainable development.

Beijing: The Eco-valley Master Plan fulfills the highest aspirations for a sustainable agricultural community. It provides a new model of agricultural living and working on a 4.4 million square meter site, targeting a LEED for Neighborhood Development Platinum rating.

Housing
At all scales and densities we seek to connect to place and climate while creating a sense of choice and identity.

Taipei: Nearing completion, the Wen Sing AIT Residential Towers brings a new standard to high-rise urban living in Taipei.

Dalien: At a more intimate scale, the Amber Bay Resort Condominiums celebrate the natural beauty and topography of the coast. Here stone-walled villas and townhouses terrace down toward the sea.

Education
Our university buildings celebrate community and nurture collaboration and cross-disciplinary exploration.

Hong Kong: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Wu Ho Man Yuen Building. This high density academic center transforms its tower typology into a place of learning and community with multi-level connections along the hillside and a terraced pedestrian street carved through the four-story podium.

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Shanghai Tech: having master planned an ambitious new campus for Science, Technology, Management, IT and Design, we are currently designing a broad array of academic and student life buildings, configured to enhance collaboration and support a world-class campus for research and innovation. 

Institutional
Understanding the essential mission of an institution
allows us to create unique places which represent and support people and communities.

Taipei: The American Institute in Taiwan is designed as an elegant compound of building and landscape which serves the needs of the diplomatic mission. It is well into construction, directly across the street from the AIT Towers.

Hong Kong: The Fire Service Training School (FSTS) creates a rich campus environment for the highly technical needs of the Department. The project translates a utilitarian program into a lively campus where sustainable buildings and landscape create an innovative and inviting community for residents and visitors.

Workshop
Fire Service Training School

Opening an office in Shanghai is an expression of our enjoyment of and commitment to working in Asia and to the importance of the Global Dialogue. The Shanghai office will enhance our ability to serve a diversity of clients while enabling a deeper sharing of insight and experience across place and culture.

postings
celebrating
Grangegorman

Yasumoto International Academic Park and Wu Ho Man Yuen Building, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Our academic complex comprised of two towers and multi-storied podium, undertaken with local firm ALKF, has been awarded the Special Architectural Award – Urban Design 2012 by the Hong Kong Institute of Architecture. The award was presented to the MRY / ALKF team at their annual ceremony held on the 24th of May.

 

building
Grangegorman

John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences South
St. Edwards University, Austin, TX

When completed later this month, this 55,000 sf classroom and teaching facility will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for the Natural Sciences Department. This new building completes the Natural Sciences Complex (Phase I also designed by Moore Ruble Yudell).

Grangegorman Lower Sproul Redevelopment, Phase 1
University of California, Berkeley

This first phase of a multi-phased student community center project on the UC Berkeley campus will be completed in the Fall of 2014. The project includes a rain garden and site green infrastructure that integrate universal access. Subsequent phases scheduled for 2014 and 2015 include new buildings and the adaptive re-use of existing buildings.
Grangegorman

Engineering VI, Phase 1
University of California, Los Angeles
Construction is progressing on Phase I of the project, while Phase II advances through the design process. The combined project provides flexible wet, dry and computational laboratory space, along with an auditorium for Engineering and the Applied Sciences.

opening
Grangegorman

2802 Pico 100% Affordable Housing
Community Corporation of Santa Monica

With the grand opening this month, 2802 Pico provides much needed affordable housing for residents in Santa Monica. As one of the last Community Corporation developments, the project represents a crowning achievement incorporating a rich blend of residential, community space and active retail on a very urban site.

 
engaging
Grangegorman

Overdrive: LA Constructs the Future 1940–1990
The new Overdrive exhibition is on view at the Getty Center until July. It then moves to the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. in Fall 2013. Part of Pacific Standard Time Presents: Modern Architecture in L.A., the exhibition includes a model and drawings of St. Matthew’s Church, designed by Moore Ruble Yudell.

Grangegorman

Garden Dialogues: Southern California
Principal Mario Violich and Landscape architect Pamela Burton led a discussion and tour of Moore Ruble Yudell's Gilbert Residence in Brentwood. The event was sponsored and organized by The Cultural Landscape Foundation, which increases the public's awareness and understanding of the importance and irreplaceable legacy of its cultural landscapes.

Grangegorman

Building Type Basics for College and University Facilities
Partner John Ruble, FAIA and Principal Jeanne Chen, AIA are the Student Housing contributors for Building Type Basics for College and University Facilities, second edition, by David J. Neuman, FAIA which provides essential guidelines for planning, programming and building design, including recent case studies. Released in June 2013, there will be a book signing at the SCUP 48 Conference July 27-31, 2013 in San Diego.

Grangegorman

2013 American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention
Denver, Colorado

On June 20, 2013, Principal James Mary O'Connor, AIA, will give a presentation entitled “The Architect, Urban Designer and Transport Engineer as Civic Leaders—The Los Angeles Union Station Master Plan Competition” with co-presenters Jamie Maslyn Larson, Partner and Principal of West 8, and David Herd, Partner of Buro Happold.

Grangegorman

SCUP's 48th Annual International Conference
San Diego, California

On Sunday, July 28, 2013, Caryn A. Grape will co-present at the SCUP 48 workshop Conducting Research for Learning Space Design. Accompanied by Janice E. Fournier, Susan L. Painter, and Jill K. Morelli, this workshop will illustrate ways to bring research thinking to the design of learning spaces.

Grangegorman

US Green Building Council Tour
Claremont McKenna College North Mall

Principal Mario Violich and Associate Simone Barth will lead a tour of the recently completed Claremont McKenna College North Mall project this Fall. The tour, sponsored by the USGBC San Bernardino chapter, will focus on the integration of green infrastructure and the redevelopment of the North Mall as a catalyst in shaping both environmental and community institutional vision.

Grangegorman

SCUP North Central Regional Conference
St. Louis, Missouri

Associate Vice Chancellor, Bob Simmons, of UMKC, Steve McDowell, Principal, BNIM, and Jeanne Chen, Principal, Moore Ruble Yudell will present Design Led Innovation: Is the D(design) School the new B(business) School? at the SCUP North Central Regional Conference held at Washington University in St. Louis, October 13–16, 2013.

Moore Ruble Yudell Website