Calatrava’s Soaring Pavilion Spreads its Wings to Create Shade

Almost 10 years ago, a new addition to the <a href="http://www.mam.org/info/architecture.php" target="_blank">Milwaukee Art Museum</a> on the shores of Lake Michigan rocked the worlds of art and architecture. The famous Quadracci Pavilion is a soaring addition inspired by the wings of birds and the sailing culture on Lake Michigan. Designed by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/30/calatrava-unveils-rail-station-at-denver-international-airport/" target="_blank">Santiago Calatrava</a> in 1994 and completed in 2001, the shade-providing Pavilion is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with a series of exhibitions including shows on <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/27/frank-lloyd-wright-fallingwater-underground-eco-cottages/" target="_blank">Frank Lloyd Wright</a> and Calatrava himself.

In 2011, the Milwaukee Art Museum will celebrate it's 10th Anniversary of the Calatrava addition, called the Quadracci Pavilion.

The pavilion stands on the shores of Lake Michigan like a ship ready to set sail or a bird about to take flight.

The pavilion features an innovative and unique moveable sun shade that opens and closes two times during the day to provide shade for the glass walled entrance hall.

Then in 1975 a larger space was created for the museum by David Kahler, who connected the building to the city with a concrete bridge.

To further accommodate its needs for more space, a grander entrance and a strong image for the city, the museum sought out architects to design a new addition and settled on <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/09/28/calatravas-high-speed-rail-station-opens-in-liege/" target="_blank">Santiago Calatrava</a> in 1994. The impressive project is now called the <a href="http://www.mam.org/info/details/quadracci.php" target="_blank">Quadracci Pavilion</a>, named after Betty and Harry Quadracci who kicked off the capital campaign with a $10 million donation.

The white steel and concrete building is reminiscent of a large ship about to set sail on the water and adds 13,200 square meters to the existing 14,900 square meters of exhibition space.

The white steel and concrete building is reminiscent of a large ship about to set sail on the water and adds 13,200 square meters to the existing 14,900 square meters of exhibition space.

The design for the amazing <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/20/orange-memorial-eco-park-springs-up-in-south-san-francisco/" target="_blank">shaded pavilion</a> and sun screen was conceived back in 1994 and at the time of construction was considered unprecedented. Calatrava's design was considered challenging and required a significant amount of custom work.

The museum's most notable feature is its soaring wing-like sun screen set atop the reception hall. Constructed out of steel, 36 fins form the <a href="http://www.mam.org/visit/details/detail_burke.php">Burke Brise Soleil</a>, which has a wingspan of 217 feet and opens and closes twice a day.

During the day, the screen opens up to shade the glass entrance hall from the sun and at night, the screen closes down like a bird folding his wings to sleep. The wingspan is comparable to that of a Boeing 747-400; it has two ultrasonic wind sensors that automatically close the wings if the wind speed reaches 23 mph or greater.

As part of the 10th Anniversary, the museum will honor Calatrava and his design for the museum with a special exhibition starting in September. In February a special exhibition on Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture will commence the celebrations.

Daniel T. Keegan, director, Milwaukee Art Museum, said “The Milwaukee Art Museum is now the symbol of the city, due to the visionary efforts of Mr. Calatrava. We hope to attract architects and visitors from around the world to see firsthand the resounding success of extraordinary architecture, and to view our Frank Lloyd Wright, Treasures from the Forbidden City, and Calatrava Building a Masterpiece exhibitions.”

“I had clients who truly wanted from me the best architecture that I could do,” Calatrava has said. “Their ambition was to create something exceptional for their community…. Thanks to them, this project responds to the culture of the lake: the sailboats, the weather, the sense of motion and change.