A complex of laboratories and classrooms opened in Cambridge in May 2004. His unusual project attracted the attention of not only architectural critics, but also the general public, and the scale with which the building was built (his budget was $ 300 million), made it one of the most significant buildings in Gehry of the last ten years.
But soon the walls of the open amphitheater, one of the most visible elements of the building, began to crack due to errors in the drainage system. Snow and ice accumulated on the roofs of buildings located at unusual angles, and then fell down, blocking emergency exits and damaging the walls of the building. Leaks have appeared in many places, and mold has settled on the brickwork.
MIT had to hire another construction firm for $ 1.5 million and rebuild the amphitheater.
Skanska USA sees the cause of all existing problems in the architect's miscalculations; according to a company representative, its specialists tried to convince Gehry to change the design of the amphitheater, but he did not make concessions. Independent experts invited by MIT also tended to agree with the Skanska USA staff. Gehry himself, who received $ 15 million for the Stat Center project, has so far refrained from commenting.
At the same time, observers note that when ordering a project for a building to a "star" architect, one must be prepared for any surprises, including such "banal" ones: this is a kind of payment for originality.
