Project Overview
UC San Diego Mandeville Art Gallery, La Jolla, California
Syska Hennessy was awarded the opportunity to provide Architectural Lighting Design services for the enhancement and renovations to the Mandeville Art Gallery. Although small, this project was personally mandated by the University Chancellor and acts as an important attractor to students and the public. There were enhancements to both the interior and exterior of the building, however it is the exterior envelope that was the primary focus of the project. The gallery sits at a significant node in the campus Ridgewalk spine and forms a virtual front door to the campus.
The challenge was set to create a unique experience that would signal the entrance to the campus while being artful and functional. Syska proposed a design that blended the use of a media mesh system and exterior theatrical lighting that wrap the existing concrete facade. Museum curators have the opportunity to change and program moving media including messages, art and video across the facade. Theatrical lighting has also provided changeable lighting beneath the facade for special events and art openings. This blend of art, media, audio/visual and lighting has created the unique attraction the Chancellor desired.
