designbelt

The Bertram and Judith Kohl Building     2010

Jonathan Kurtz of Westlake Reed Leskosky  

Cleveland Architecture Coloring Book

The Bertram and Judith Kohl Jazz Studies Building is a dynamic interplay of planes, concealing and exposing use at key moments. The rhythm of the skin sets the building apart from the conservatory’s three neo-Gothic structures by Minoru Yamasaki (a,b,c), while an exterior stair encourages the pedestrian to engage the building, leading them to a unique third-story public space. Here, Koolhaas (d) meets LTL (e) to create a fresh, innovative piece of architecture that is easily one of the best buildings in North East Ohio to be completed in the past several decades.

The Bertram and Judith Kohl Building.Oberlin College Music Conservatory.77 West College Street.Oberlin, OH.44074

(a) Bibbins Hall     Oberlin College.Oberlin, Ohio     (1964)

 Minoru Yamasaki

(b) Warner Concert Hall + Central Unit     Oberlin College.Oberlin, Ohio     (1963)

 Minoru Yamasaki

 (c) Robertson Hall     Oberlin College.Oberlin, Ohio     (1963)

 Minoru Yamasaki

(d) Rem Hoolhaas  OMA

(e) Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis Architects