Yale Art and Architecture Building

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The Yale Art and Architecture Building as seen from the rooftop of an adjacent building

The Yale Art and Architecture Building is one of the best known examples of Brutalist Architecture in the United States.

Designed by architect Paul Rudolph and completed in 1963, the complex building contains over thirty floor levels in its seven stories. The building is made of ribbed, bush-hammered, concrete. When the architecture building first opened, it was praised widely by critics and academics, and received several prestigious awards, including the Award of Honor by the American Institute of Architects. As time went by the reaction to the building became more negative. A large fire in 1969 caused extensive damage and during the repairs, many changes were made to Rudolph's original design. Some have claimed that the fire was the result of arson committed by a disgruntled student, but this charge has remained unproven.

In more recent years there has been an increased appreciation of the structure. The School of Art moved out to its own structure and the edifice is undergoing an addition and renovation with the intent of restoring it to the design originally envisioned by Rudolph.

This commission was given to Gwathmey, Siegel, and Associate Architects, of which Charles Gwathmey is a Yale Alumnus. Previous renovation schemes have been commissioned by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Richard Meier, and Beyer Blinder Belle.

The renewed structure will restore the rooftop penthouse, a dismantled student lounge, and previously destroyed bridges and will be adjoined to a new Art History department.