d+a | Issue 119

51 creates sequences of soft-touch/high- polish experiences that define the building’s character beyond its exterior. STATELY WITHOUT STATEMENT Today’s institutional buildings are a far cry from those of yesteryear, the once- enshrined dogma of Vitruvian firmitas and utilitas pared back in recent decades to support more inclusive and diverse qualities of venustas . Though deterministic dogma still exists, the beauty of 21st-century architecture lies in its reflection of technological progress, contemporary attitudes and social equity that continue to shape this era. GDP’s AICB Building occupies a unique design middle ground, of having neither too much nor too little, of being stately without statement. Yet, by pushing the limits of its own parameters, it has succeeded in the hardest of tasks of balancing the dignity of institution with an exciting openness for its people, its students and society at large. 11. Glass meeting cubes, stacked and cantilevered, extend the atrium’s dynamic theme to great effect while highlighting the facility’s pedagogical qualities. 12. Courtesy of low-level blinds and tall shopfront glazing, the library’s day-lit reading area makes for an ideal venue for research and study. / 13. Seating 240 attendees, the auditorium’s timbre and contrasting black-and-white tones blend into one the look of institutional formality and user-centric soft- touch aesthetic. 12 13