For the first time in the history of the university, all of its astronomical specialists were able to accommodate in one building, which should have a beneficial effect on their work.
The opening of the center was not planned for this year by accident: 2009 was declared by UNESCO as the International Year of Astronomy, since 400 years ago Galileo Galilei first used an astronomical telescope in his research.
Tom Maine reflected his view of celestial mechanics in two key components of the building: its façade and the central staircase. The walls of the building are clad with brick-red fiber cement panels, reinforced with a PVC membrane. They bend and diverge in wide cracks, "demonstrating" the impact of various galactic forces on our planet. The dynamism of the architectural composition is enhanced by the traditional technique: the panels cover only the 2nd and 3rd floors, the first is left glazed, and the building's volume is visually raised above ground level.
From the vestibule, visitors enter the well of the main staircase: it tapers upwards, towards the final skylight, imitating a view through a telescope.
The rest of the building is quite restrained: the premises are located in it along the traditional rectangular grid, along the corridors. The first floor is set aside for the auditorium and library, which are intended to serve as the main spaces for communication; the offices of 300 researchers - part-time, faculty and graduate students of Caltech - are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors, as well as on the first part. They are interspersed with small meeting and conference rooms, which should encourage employees to exchange views more often. All laboratories are located in the underground tier of the center, illuminated by sunlight through a glazed moat that surrounds the building.
Maine himself considers this building "the most conservative" in his work. At the same time, in it, he continued his cardinal line of "green" architecture: the center must receive the LEED gold certificate of energy activity. It uses 30% less water than the standard, and about a quarter less electricity, and sunlight illuminates at least 75% of the premises. Facade panels also play an important role: they act as a sun shield, reducing the cost of cooling the interior.
