NOTE: This work was completed as part of a team during an internship at Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture in Chicago, Illinois in 2008

Team members:

Cody Campbell l Smith+Gill
Dennis Rehill (Senior project manager) Smith+Gill
Miguel Alvarez l Smith+Gill
Michael Waldo l Smith+Gill
William Doran l Smith+Gill
Crystal Render Co. China (Renderings)
Model Options Chicago (Physical Model)

Location: Dubai, United Emirates

Project Description:

Crystal Center is a dramatic ars center prototype located in a harbor in the heart of Dubai. The project consists of eleven crystal-like hotel and condo structures which cantilever up to 230 ft above the water. Perforated panels hover over the lighter, glass curtain walls beneath and add sun protection to the units in a very hot climate. The cantilevers are kept in check by a surprisingly rational system of standard members, and floor slabs are hung from the "backbone" which are steel trusses. Each structure is pinned in place to the podium, and balanced by dual inclinator cores.