Sweetwater Creek Material + Light Research Center

This building itself takes advantage of a sloped landscape and its location on the edge of a large water collection in order to create various lighting conditions that change throughout the day. The research center includes a large two-floor gallery space that allows visitors to study various material exhibits and how they interact with the various light conditions that shine within the gallery. The center includes space for scientists and researchers to test these visitors with fMRI technology in order to gain knowledge regarding which materials effectively improve/worsen moods. The materials that make up the building are a direct response to the mill ruins that are present in Sweetwater Creek State Park: bricks, concrete, and glass (previously). The buildings design creates multiple attempts to perforate these materials and layer glass in a way that can accomplish different light experiences. The building’s position on the landscape allow for different views to be seen from different heights along a path of descent that includes a walkable roof and a water pool at the bottom of a terraced courtyard. Overall, the building is meant to be used as not only a research center, but a public space that becomes an important part of the park.