I just visited the ICA this weekend for the first time since the grand opening (Dec 10, 2006) and here are some of my pictures including construction pictures from earlier last summer. The ICA is located in Boston's Fan Pier District and is part of an overall development effort. The ICA is a compact building with the main gallery on the forth level, theater on levels three and two, café, shop and tickets on level one.

More information regarding the building and Architect (Diller Scofidio + Renfro) can be found on the ICA website: www.icaboston.org (http://www.icaboston.org)

The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
100 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210

Previous threads regarding Diller Scofido + Renfro and the ICA:
http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=742
http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums//showthread.php?t=1280

01, view during construction

02, view during construction

03, view of entrance

04, view under main gallery with projected media room

05, view of glass elevator, one of the largest glass elevators in the world (about 10'x20')

06, view of main stair: painted metal, concrete stair, wood wall. Folds in steel panels are used to attach handrail.

07, view looking down main stair with vertical light fixture

08, view of structural glass wall detail, at water side of main gallery

09, view of corridor at water side of main gallery

10, view of canted glass wall at media room, under main gallery

11, view of undulating perforated wall at the main theater

12, view of main theater, with black curtains down (the outside walls of the theater are glass)

13, view of control room, back of main theater

14, view from glass elevator looking down to ticket counter

15, view of building with partial Boston skyline and harbor

Great pics. Thanks:rock on:

What is your opinion about the building InArch?

I would like to see more exterior shots, do you have more?. The building looks good in that 3rd shot.

In my opinion, the building is very well designed. I can appreciate the dialog of the exterior materials; glass, metal and wood as they play off each other and create a building language. Part of the Fan Pier Development design is to bring the boardwalk right past the ICA. A partial amount of the boardwalk is built and the wood decking is mirrored on the ceiling under the main gallery. The interior is too simple and perhaps could use a step up in finishes. The floors are concrete, walls are gypsum painted white with some wood, ceilings are mostly panel systems. As I looked around at details and material transitions I could only question the longevity of the surfaces as they are subject to public wear and tear. BUT, once you get to the main gallery the ceiling is a scrim allowing natural night through skylights and the view from the glass wall into the harbor is breathtaking. Overall, this building is a good balance of modern design and financial budget.

I do have more photos, but since the building can only be photographed from 3 sides without a boat, the internet will be a better source of additional images.

Very interesting project. Small and smart.
How much is the cantilever ?????:eek: :eek:

From what I know, the cantilever is designed like a bridge with two very large trusses at either end. I stood at the glass end on a windy day and felt no floor movement.

A full descusion of the ICA and extensive photos of the construction process can be found on www.architecturalboston.com (http://www.architecturalboston.com) : http://architecturalboston.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=64

I'm liking the building more and more as a simple yet daring spatial and structural solution - the way these two concepts are inseparable is clear from the last photo posted. From the rough steel structure you already see almost everything important that makes the building great.
However,from the detailed photos posted by InArch I can feel that the weakness of it all is hidden in the interior. The finishes of the walls in the theatre are sooo dull... Had it been designed by H&deM or Koolhaas with Petra Blaisse I think the material selection would be much more intriguing or exciting or simply meaningful.

Can someone give me more information about this media room you can see as a viewscreen from outside. I see that there are PC's inside it. What is their purpose?

What I am going to is this: our last school project involved setting up out own program. And there came this discussion of the use of a "media room" in an era of everyone-has-bloody-internet-at-home...

But a media room is not just for internet, and the facts about home internet access or can change rapidly.
I read an article that the best thing about the building is all the public space it generates with those steps and the big cantilever. It looks like a great place to do open air shows or whatever.
It's clear that that was the main focus on the building and that they spent all the budget in that big structure instead of doing some fine detailing. I think I prefer the way it is over good finishes.

Had it been designed by H&deM or Koolhaas with Petra Blaisse or I think the material selection would be much more intriguing or exciting or simply meaningful.

I would think these other designers would have faced the same problem. The ICA is a private organization that funded the project entirely through donations. If there was a greater budget, I'm sure Diller Scofidio would have used it also.

Can someone give me more information about this media room you can see as a viewscreen from outside. I see that there are PC's inside it. What is their purpose?

The media room which steps down below the main gallery is a public computer room with about 20-30 iMac 20" computers. I didn't actually sit and use a computer, but noticed people using headphones. I believe you could view information on the art exhibits on theses computers. The view from the room is remarkable and the skewed geometry somewhat nerving in good way.

The ICA website lists the ability to use your own personal MP3 device to explore the museum.

The building doesn't do much for me and the lackluster interiors aren't helping either. It seems as though as many have stated the impact is in the large cantilever and the use of materials on the facades. It is tough to understand the spaces with the images shown. The way they are shot leaves more questions then answers. Not knocking your pictures...the interiors.

It would be good to see some plans and sections, particularly of the lower levels, to see how they arranged the interior public space.

Found some

But a media room is not just for internet, and the facts about home internet access or can change rapidly.

That answer is not helping. "not just for internet" >>> Ok, but I wish to know for what else it's used too then?

The media room which steps down below the main gallery is a public computer room with about 20-30 iMac 20" computers. I didn't actually sit and use a computer, but noticed people using headphones. I believe you could view information on the art exhibits on theses computers. The view from the room is remarkable and the skewed geometry somewhat nerving in good way.

The ICA website lists the ability to use your own personal MP3 device to explore the museum.
I would go to that place to view the art that is there, and I would definately not get seated behind a pc to do what I can do at home...

I would think these other designers would have faced the same problem. The ICA is a private organization that funded the project entirely through donations. If there was a greater budget, I'm sure Diller Scofidio would have used it also.

Dont think its about budget so much as a lack of rigour or conceptual thinking in terms of how the materials have been chosen and detailed. It strikes me as being immensley derivative of European avant garde architecture. In fact not even the avant garde, really just the kind of trendy and modish stuff that is cropping up in every provincial city. It has all the fashionable stylistic tics but due to what i would suspect is a lack of maturity from the designers there are rather too many things going on and that makes the whole rather less than the sum of its parts.

Dont think its about budget so much as a lack of rigour or conceptual thinking in terms of how the materials have been chosen and detailed. It strikes me as being immensley derivative of European avant garde architecture.


According to an article in the Boston Globe Magazine, they "started building before all the money was in hand", this probably caused some value engineering at the conclusion of the design process. Also, there are very different design aesthetics between the US and Europe and I don't see this as a stylistic vision. Especially in the current state of Boston development and the Fan Pier district, this building marks an iconic attempt to define a new wave of buildings in the area. So based on experience, I'll restate a stringent budget to be the cause of some undermined finishes and also the hurdle of a small private organization to fund raise a generous amount for a construction budget of a visionary building. Just my 2 cents.

i have to agree with am_i_wry, its not about the budget, its the knowledge of how to fully take advantage of cheaper materials which is important. looking at the pics it seems to me that the circulation seems very tight. what is the size of the overall building? the colours of the buildings also seem very dull despite seeing all those fancy 3d renderings with great colours that diller+scofidio always have. plus the plan seems a little boring and tight. could you help me see these things at a different angle?

I only suggest visiting the building and understanding the project criteria before making assumptions. This is a great architectural project with plenty of well thought out details that meet the program requirements and exceeded general public expectations.