Atkinson Hall, home of Calit2 at UCSD, is designed as an instrument of research to encourage partners to combine in unusual teams to make fundamental discoveries. As a result, one of its defining characteristics is a constant state of change. Every aspect of the building, designed by NBBJ and constructed by Gilbane, is inspired by this notion of change and exemplified through interconnected, ubiquitous, broadband wireless communication and the change that it enables.

The building promotes the coexistence ­ indeed, the interaction ­ of opposites. The main mass is composed of a six-story office tower “backbone” resting on the foundation of a first floor in the shape of an “S.” The soft exterior shape was chosen for its organic ­ constantly changing ­ appeal and inherently wireless-receptive nature. Large “propagation windows” rendered in clear glazing literally and figuratively allow transmission of line-of-sight communication signals and circulation patterns of people in the building.

The materials in the building were selected to support the specialized needs of the research groups intended to occupy the building. As a result, a steel structural system was selected over reinforced concrete so that the researchers can know precisely where the steel members are with respect to propagation. The primary building “cladding” (exterior material) systems, insulated-glass curtainwall, and Trespa paneling were chosen because they are propagation-transparent.

The interior design seeks to maximize interaction in interdisciplinary research by encouraging small, random groupings of people. The design nurtures the intimacy of ideas at the level of one-on-one office or laboratory-oriented dialogue; chance encounters in halls, stair landings, and lounge areas; collaborative interactions in the unbounded research neighborhoods; group interactions in visualization and conference rooms; and collective gatherings in the auditorium, CAVE, and courtyard. Furniture, by Werndl, is easily movable and reconfigurable to support a wide variety of needs.

Networking is a unifying element for all users in the building through plentiful distribution and exposed condition overhead as a matter of pride. Some 150 fibers connect the building with campus networking infrastructure. The building itself contains nearly 2 million feet of category 6 copper cabeling. All offices have 12 ports available for any combination of that number of computers and printers.