Columbus Center, Glass Wall and Roof
New York, USA
Building architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Design engineer: Schlaich, Bergermann & Partner
1999-2004

James Carpenter, Luke Lowings, Aki Ishida and the team at JCDA, working with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, developed a complete scheme for an atrium at the Columbus Center development project on Columbus Circle in New York.  The complex is comprised of two towers separated by an east facing atrium, which measures approximately 150' high by 85' wide by 90' deep and it is generally subdivided horizontally into two functions, which are the main public entry and retail at the lower levels, and the performance lobby for Jazz @ Lincoln Center at the upper levels.
The atrium incorporates a highly transparent exterior cable net glass wall for the front elevation. The proposed glazing is water-clear glass maximizing transparency into the atrium and performance spaces.  This wall provides all weather protection for the entire atrium volume.
JCDA also designed an inclined acoustic glass wall that defines the enclosure for Jazz @ Lincoln Center. This interior wall, supported only by vertical cables, will be designed to maximize the transparency as well as meet the acoustic criteria for the performance space.
The scheme also incorporates a skylight/roof design that is a series of trusses spanning the width of the atrium, stepping back parallel to the front wall. The skylight/roof glazing will satisfy both thermal performance and acoustic criteria. Sun shading will be an integral part of the thermal performance of the skylight/roof design.

The project was short-listed for the Bombay Sapphire Award in 2005.