In an invited competition, we were awarded the commission to
design the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. This civic
building, a landmark for Pittsburgh and a world-class icon for the
institution, stands as the armature, backbone and backdrop to the
complex stories of African American culture, the arts and central role
African Americans have played in Pittsburgh's history.
The facility is a center for the visual and performing arts for
international music and education. The program elements include a
500-seat theater, a music café, galleries and flexible exhibition spaces
located at the perimeter that enliven the exterior wall with an ongoing
display of changing events.
In keeping with Pittsburgh's legacy as a leader in sustainable
design, the building exploits the solar orientation of this tight
triangular urban site. The north facing façade takes advantage of this
limited solar exposure with a predominately glass wall that is
transparent yet able to incorporate graphics and projected images,
visually permeable by day and a stage for dramatic lighting at night.
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