John A. Volpe National CenterSystems
Transport. Volpe,
designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).
The John A. Volpe National Center for Transportation Systems.Volpe (after the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center) was established in 1970 to foster innovation in transportation to serve the public interest. For a long time, the Center, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, operated as a limited-access facility where advanced research was conducted. The new headquarters, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, designed by the {tag:pracownie} office, allows for deeper interaction with the local community, making the institution's activities more accessible and open to the surrounding environment.
The John A. Volpe National Center for Transportation Systems. Volpe - The center's new headquarters was designed with transparency and integration with the surrounding community in mind
photo by Dave Burk © SOM
transparency and sculptural form
at the center's new headquarters
The center's new headquarters was designed with the principles of transparency and integration with its surroundings in mind. Situated on a four-acre site, the building fits harmoniously into the space with carefully designed green spaces and sculptural land forms created by American architect and artist Maya Lin. The dynamic, undulating hills are an element that enriches the space, introducing a unique composition and emphasizing the architectural context.
The John A. Volpe National Center for Transportation Systems. Volpe - bird's eye view of the building
photo by Dave Burk © SOM
A harmonious mix of office,
laboratory and service functions
Previously, laboratories, data centers, offices and service spaces were spread out in several separate buildings. The new facility makes it possible to integrate these functions into a single building, which consists of two cuboid buildings stacked on top of each other. A glass façade on the Fifth Street side provides visual access to the building's interior, emphasizing its openness and transparency. Along Binney Street, six 4.27-meter-high garage doors connect the labs to the urban space, allowing for demonstrations.
The Center's mission aligns perfectly with the entrepreneurial nature of Kendall Square, and the building's layout and choice of materials in the interiors play a key role in its openness and accessibility
- said Joseph Ruocco, director at SOM.
The John A. Volpe National Center for Transportation Systems. Volpe's six garage doors connect the labs to the urban space, making it possible to host demonstrations
photo by Dave Burk © SOM
sustainable use of natural light in the design
The building was sited to optimize access to natural light. The facades with the smallest areas were located to the east and west, where sunlight is greatest in the morning and evening. The exterior glazed walls have been fitted with vertical aluminum slats, the shape of which is reminiscent of aircraft stabilizers. This design effectively reduces glare and reduces the penetration of solar radiation into the interiors.
The John A. Volpe National Center for Transportation Systems. Volpe - the shape of the aluminum slats on the facade refers to the aircraft's ballasts
photo by Dave Burk © SOM
The building was designed to make maximum use of available sunlight. This attention to context was also reflected in the center's interaction with its surroundings. We created a space that not only fulfills its function, but also opens up to the community and allows it to showcase its activities to the outside world
- mentioned Chris Cooper, partner at SOM.
The John A. Volpe National Center for Transportation Systems. Volpe
Photo by Dave Burk © SOM
Signage as part of the institution's identity
The architects focused on making the building's signage system consistent with the institution's identity. The graphic elements, both interior and exterior, were designed to suggest movement, and the individual numbers and letters were shaped to appear as if they were bouncing off the walls, creating a sense of movement through the space.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of the SOM studio.
