A building proposal for an ecology library and data center.

SCI-Arc Design Studio 2B
Worlds II
Spring 2023
Instructors: Jennifer Chen, Jeremy Kamal Hartley, Kordae Henry, and Rachael McCall

In this studio, we undertook the design of an ecology library and data center on a site within the existing parking lot located at the corner of 6th and Hope St in Downtown LA. The project was carefully divided into three distinct parts. It delved into exploring alternative typologies for this unique hybrid program, aiming to foster unexpected dialogues between the public and infrastructural elements while also considering how they interacted with each other - one acting as the poche of the other.

Given the substantial energy requirements of both the data center and library to maintain their meticulously controlled environments, the project challenged the conventional building typologies associated with these programs. It called for a thoughtful response that would actively address ecological and environmental concerns. Throughout the design process of the Ecology Library and Data Center, our projects sought to examine the intricate relationship between the architecture and its context, the program and its environment, and the dynamic interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces. The goal was to create an architectural approach that could holistically engage with the ever-changing ecology of the environment we inhabit.

To present our final proposal, our team meticulously crafted a set of drawings and an animated film, offering a compelling portrayal of the envisioned building design.