In Pasadena, Calif., a former supersonic wind tunnel has been transformed into a new educational facility: the Mullin Transportation Design Center (MTDC) at ArtCenter College of Design.
Designed by Darin Johnstone Architects (DJA) and built by Del Amo Construction, the MTDC supports ArtCenter’s transportation design program—known for the design of the split-window Corvette, the modern Mini, and the Ferrari F-430. The building provides access for full-scale vehicular models, replicating a professional design studio environment.
Almost doubling the wind tunnel’s effective square footage, DJA’s design converts the barrel-vaulted, 43-ft-high space to hold 31,000 sf of specialized creative labs, large-scale makerspaces, classrooms, exhibition areas, studios, and offices. The vehicle-intensive spaces facilitate design, research, and experimentation.
MTDC includes a 1,533-sf flex lecture space; three creative labs totaling 7,000sf; five 1,100-sf undergraduate studio classrooms; three graduate studio classrooms ranging from 1,100 to 1,600 sf; three 550-sf general conference rooms; 1,000 sf of administrative spaces; and about 10,700 sf of galleries and exhibition areas as well as informal gathering areas and circulation space.
Large-scale design projects can be showcased in the new gallery and exhibition spaces as well as a hovering mezzanine. The hovering elements nod to the building’s aeronautic history. MTDC also was designed to serve as a pedestrian passthrough and focal point connecting all of the buildings on ArtCenter’s South Campus.
Originally, the 85-ft by 220-ft MTDC space was home to a supersonic wind tunnel commissioned in 1945 and operated by Caltech as a testing facility for aerospace manufacturers. In 1953, it became a testing facility for General Motors’ automobile designs. Other testing followed for missiles, torpedoes, and parachutes, among other objects.
Adjacent to the wind tunnel space, a portion of the building was renovated to hold the recently completed, DJA-designed Mobility Experience Lab by Genesis, Hyundai & Kia. Dedicated to research and design, the 3,400-sf lab explores the user experience.
MTDC is on track to achieve LEED certification.
On the Building Team:
Architect: Darin Johnstone Architects
Structural engineer: Labib Funk + Associates
MEP engineer: Novus Design Studio
Lighting designer: KGM Lighting
Acoustical engineer: Antonio Acoustics
General contractor: Del Amo Construction
Related Stories
University Buildings | Jan 17, 2023
Texas Christian University breaks ground on medical school for Dallas-Fort Worth region
Texas Christian University (TCU) has broken ground on the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine, which aims to help meet the expanding medical needs of the growing Dallas-Fort Worth region.
ProConnect Events | Jan 16, 2023
6 more BD+C ProConnect Events in 2023 – The videos show why you should participate
ProConnects bring building product manufacturers and suppliers together with architects, contractors, builders, and developers to discuss upcoming projects and learn about new products and technical solutions.
K-12 Schools | Dec 23, 2022
Vacant Target store in Minnesota turned into early childhood education center
Lincoln School, a former 90,000-sf Target retail store in Fergus Falls, Minn., was repurposed into Independent School District 544’s newest campus.
University Buildings | Dec 22, 2022
Loyola Marymount University completes a new home for its acclaimed School of Film and Television
California’s Loyola Marymount University (LMU) has completed two new buildings for arts and media education at its Westchester campus. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the Howard B. Fitzpatrick Pavilion is the new home of the undergraduate School of Film and Television, which is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 10 film schools. Also designed by SOM, the open-air Drollinger Family Stage is an outdoor lecture and performance space.
Adaptive Reuse | Dec 21, 2022
University of Pittsburgh reinvents century-old Model-T building as a life sciences research facility
After opening earlier this year, The Assembly recently achieved LEED Gold certification, aligning with the school’s and community’s larger sustainability efforts.
Sponsored | Resiliency | Dec 14, 2022
Flood protection: What building owners need to know to protect their properties
This course from Walter P Moore examines numerous flood protection approaches and building owner needs before delving into the flood protection process. Determining the flood resilience of a property can provide a good understanding of risk associated costs.
HVAC | Dec 13, 2022
Energy Management Institute launches online tool to connect building owners with HVAC contractors
The National Energy Management Institute Inc. (NEMI) along with the Biden administration’s Better Air in Buildings website have rolled out a resource to help building owners and managers, school districts, and other officials find HVAC contractors.
Student Housing | Dec 7, 2022
Cornell University builds massive student housing complex to accommodate planned enrollment growth
In Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell University has completed its North Campus Residential Expansion (NCRE) project. Designed by ikon.5 architects, the 776,000-sf project provides 1,200 beds for first-year students and 800 beds for sophomore students. The NCRE project aimed to accommodate the university’s planned growth in student enrollment while meeting its green infrastructure standards. Cornell University plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035.
University Buildings | Dec 5, 2022
Florida Polytechnic University unveils its Applied Research Center, furthering its mission to provide STEM education
In Lakeland, Fla., located between Orlando and Tampa, Florida Polytechnic University unveiled its new Applied Research Center (ARC). Designed by HOK and built by Skanska, the 90,000-sf academic building houses research and teaching laboratories, student design spaces, conference rooms, and faculty offices—furthering the school’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) mission.
Education Facilities | Nov 30, 2022
10 ways to achieve therapeutic learning environments
Today’s school should be much more than a place to learn—it should be a nurturing setting that celebrates achievements and responds to the challenges of many different users.
