October 2015  Denis Nuangki

 

 

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

Frank Gehry’s Lou Ruvo Center features among the architect’s most complex designs, but also integrates innovative features that make it the ideal destination for Alzheimer’s disease patients. The center comprises of two main buildings, each of which serves a complimentary purpose. While one part deals with theory and research, the other hosts social activities held by the local community. The dichotomous nature of this building’s functioning is similar with that of the cerebral hemisphere, whose duality is necessary in completion of the human thought process. The design of this architectural installation is thus functional but also conceptual. The two building blocks of the center might work independent of each other, but they are linked up by a breezeway that eases the interaction between the spaces. The aesthetic relevance of this building is revealed through the metallic finish of the life activity center, which is also the main building in the center. The complex design of this building is evocative of the complex tasks accomplished within the center.

 

 

 

Frank Gehry ­remains one of the most influential practitioners in global architectural practice. His works are best known to blend the gap between architecture and sculpture, an aspect that gives character to his built designs. Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (opened in May 2010) is one of the architect’s most significant recent works. The building has a complex thought-provoking exterior whose design is evocative of the work done within. The building features curvilinear forms which are used alongside geometric features, particularly engraved windows which appear like entryways. The complexity of the angular structure is reinforced by the metallic finish of the exterior, which contributes to the ‘premium feel’ of the building[1]. These factors add up to communicate both the primary and secondary purposes of the building – to function as home for Alzheimer’s disease victims, and to pay tribute to victims of Alzheimer’s disease, including Lou Ruvo, from whom its name is derived[2].

 

The purpose of this paper seeks to analyze the design (both exterior and interior) of Frank Gehry’s Lou Ruvo towards drawing a relationship between the design of the building and the function it serves. It will be noted that, while bettering the appearance of its immediate environment, the design of the building also represents the connection between architectural design and health science.

 

Many modern practitioners, including Tadao Ando and Norman Foster have been known to draw a relationship between architectural design and nature. Frank Gehry is known for using a different approach, with most of his buildings starkly contrasting the natural environment in which they are located. With the exception of BioMuseo (2013) in Panama, which is shaped like a tropical forest canopy (albeit employing geometrical shapes), Gehry’s buildings take the form of technical equipments. Examples include Binoculars building (1991) and EMP Museum (2000), which take the forms of binoculars and a curtained stage respectively. Another distinctive aspect unique to Gehry’s buildings is the use of colorful exteriors, which only helps his built spaces to visually stand out[3]. However, rather than using multiple colors as in the case with BioMuseo, Gehry opted for a more premium feel on Lou Ruvo Center’s exterior.

 

The building resembles one of Gehry’s most popular installations to date, Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao (1997). However, other than this visual similarity, the complex design of Lou Ruvo Center is similar to that of Gehry’s Guggenheim in the sense that it serves more than the functional and aesthetic purposes. As with Guggenheim, whose boat-like shape represents the past industrial life of the port of Bilbao, the complex curvilinear/angular exterior of Lou Ruvo Center represents the complex process of treatment of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s Diseases, and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) as well as focusing on prevention, early detection and education[4]. It is worth noting that, other than its main purpose of rehabilitating patients, the Lou Ruvo Center also serves as a conference center which hosts all sorts of events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1: Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Las Vegas, USA. Frank Gehry, 2007. Only a limited section of Lou Ruvo Center is dedicated to healthcare the medical building

 

 

Lou Ruvo Center has two main spaces; the medical building and the life activity center. Accordingly, each of these spaces serves a distinct purpose. The medical building appears like a compilation of large cubical blocks but also features simple, functional interiors (figure 1). The entry to this section is calming and scaled to house caregivers and the ailing patients. It is important to note that Gehry opts not to insert waiting rooms in the medical facility, as in the case with conventional healthcare centers[5]. Instead, upon entry, one is greeted with a lobby filled with natural daylight. Instead of long endless corridors, corridors have curved walls. This helps in eliminating the mentality often associated with long corridors that patients on a never-ending journey down long, straight, fluorescent-lit hallways[6]. Such corridors are also likely to diminish the hope of a patient to recover. In place of fluorescent lighting, light is provided by the daylight that pours through the open exam rooms.

 

In the medical building, high roofs are also useful in introducing a sense of freedom within these spaces. Another unique aspect of this building is that artificial light is turned upwards. This is useful in controlling the white glare traditionally associated with doctors’ rooms. Artificial light is allowed to bounce off the ceilings, thus providing for balanced illumination of the facility’s interiors at night[7]. This combination of features gives the space a unique liveliness rare in conventional medical facilities. Unlike traditional facilities that are often devoid of life, inspiration and joy, this component’s interiors radiate hope, inspiration and delight.  The calm atmosphere is ideal for the primary functional purpose of this building.

 

 

The Life Activity Center is the other section of the center and which forms the main block of the building. The section also features the more complex design. It is commonly misconceived that the Life Activity Center is where the patients are treated. However, patients only get to interact with the façade, as this section is dedicated for events and occasions. Owing to the center’s location, Las Vegas, it is bound to attract many events and conferences. The proceeds from these events are used to fund research conducted in the medical building.

 

Other than the metallic overlay on the Life Activity Center, the complexity of the main building’s design is reinforced by colored LED lights, which are responsible for a distinctive view of the building from the outside. The building thus stands out from far-off, with motorcyclists along the high profile cross roads in Las Vegas being provided with a spectacular view of the building, both during day and night (figure 2). More to that, the Life Activity Center’s interior is ideal for the purpose it serves. The interior is bright, spacious and airy, a perfect environment for community events (figure 3).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2: Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Las Vegas, USA. Frank Gehry, 2007. The Life Activity Center has the most complex design of the three sections of the center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 3: Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Las Vegas, USA. Frank Gehry, 2007. A bright and spacious interior for the Life Activity Center is ideal for conferences

 

Lou Ruvo Center also has a third section, a breezeway that bridges the two main sections. The breezeway is a relaxation zone that features a small café and views to a garden to the left of the building. The quiet and shade in this section makes it ideal for relaxation. It is worth noting that this breezeway is significant in communicating the concept behind the architectural design of the center. The breezeway functions as a corridor, separating the two main areas of a building that serves dual purposes. This is reminiscent of dichotomy of the cerebral hemisphere of the brain – one which is creative with the other being analytical[8]. For a building that was intended to serve dual purposes that are contrary to each other, it was necessary to have a transitional border in the form of a corridor. This space proves that, while practicality was a necessary priority for Gehry, he was also capable of bringing order to the design of the center. The result is a creatively designed architectural installation that is not only functional but that also reveals Gehry’s creativity and capacity to meet human desire through architecture.

 

It is worth noting that Lou Ruvo Center is not only complex design-wise, but also engaged a complex design and construction process. The mass of the main building consists of steel curvatures which form part of a self-supporting structure, irrespective of the window openings and hatches incorporated within the building (figure 4). Each of the steel sheets is joined up with up to 100 bolt binds, showing just how intricate the design is[9]. Each of the 199 windows of the building has individual dimensions, and so is each of the 18,000 stainless steel tiles[10]. The irregular elevation of the building necessitated for precision, as any error would call for demolition. Each of the steel connections had to be designed and manufactured individually. This partly explains why the project was one of the most expensive in the region at the time of construction. In order to building process to be a success, close collaboration between Gehry’s architects and experienced engineers was necessary. The engineers relied on 3D BIM technology for the design project and to design the structural steel elements used in this project[11].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 4: Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Las Vegas, USA. Frank Gehry, 2007. A section of the Life Activity Center showing the intricacy of the building’s design

 

 

Part of the reason why complexity was so necessary in conceiving the design of Lou Ruvo Center is the fact that the buildings needed to be suited to the harsh climatic conditions of Las Vegas. The building is waterproofed by the lack of concrete and the presence of a steel shell[12]. Whenever steel is not used, the architect replaces the material with 3 layers of stucco, each 1 inch thick[13]. The aluminum support system is also installed to permit expansion of 5.5 cm above the vertical height, in response to the extreme temperatures in the region[14]. 

 

Other than these, the building is also fitted with environmentally sensitive features.  For instance, motion sensors accompany each light switch in the medical building. This in part helps in controlling energy consumption, while also proving beneficial for patients who seeking to move freely without having to locate switches. Heat and air conditioning systems are also installed in either building. These are installed alongside light sensors, which track sunlight intensity throughout the day, while reacting to maintain the ideal temperatures. The windows are also energy efficient, featuring translucent component that still permeates sunlight into the building. They also include four-layer tear-resistant material, thus reducing the need for frequent replacements. The windows of the medical center are oriented to the north, thus are not in directly pointed to extreme sunlight. The breezeway has a courtyard cover, which provides a cool shade to the relaxation section. A similar cover is available at the southern section of the medical facility and serves to sift sunlight entering the building from the south.

 

With the center comprising of two wings – one dedicated to healthcare and research and the other dedicated to the public, one would expect lack of cohesiveness between the architectural sections. The fact that the two main buildings are based on different designs does not help the situation. The medical building features simple geometric shapes while the Life Activity Center combines curvilinear and geometric shapes, not to mention a steel exterior finish. However, these factors are not enough to eliminate fluidity across the architectural spaces. While the medical building has is based on cubical blocks, the manner in which these blocks are arranged is such that they recede vertically to create an arc (figure 1). It is hard to ignore the complementary manner in which the resulting arc relates with the draped exterior of the auditorium.

 

Although the two wings are not based on the same design, they are connected by the breezeway is in a way that makes them feel as one. The breezeway is welcoming, given its scale and the range of bright colors featured on its walls. In fact, the unobstructed movement the breezeway facilitates channels occupants in a similar fashion as that of the brain channeling information from one part of the brain to the other without restriction[15]. This is all necessary for a center in which complex research work and rehabilitation work is done, and where caregivers, doctors, and even patients need to enjoy the liberty provided by the building with ease.

 

Even with all the success that Lou Ruvo Center’s design promises, the architectural work has still faced strong criticism. Like every other Frank Gehry’s work, Lou Ruvo Center has been criticized, especially in regard to the design of the Life Activity Center. Many architectural practitioners and critics have questioned the suitability of the building’s design as part of a medical center. It may be argued that this section of the building is not intended for the patients and should thus allow Gehry to experiment with an unconventional design. Some have still questioned if the rubble-like building is the best view for patients struggling with mental conditions[16]. Irrespective of the fact that the building was intended at commemorating Lou Ruvo, a patient of Alzheimer, only a small part of the facility is dedicated to healthcare and research. The larger block, is not only serves a dissimilar purpose, but is also designed in a manner that in no way celebrates Alzheimer’s patients.  

 

The idea of introducing multiple angles to the building has also been opposed. Critics have cited that Gehry was ignorant of the fact that the region is prone to experience sand storms, in which case the angular building would trap much of the dust[17]. The fact that this was a resource and time-intensive project does not help Gehry’s case. Many feel that the architect is incapable of using readily available materials to make durable and visually appealing architecture, something he showcased with this project, which cost over US$ 70 million[18].

 

Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is one of the recent architectural works by Frank Gehry that puts him on the map as one of the best contemporary architects. The design of the building’s exterior is similar to that of his earlier projects, most notably the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao. Just like the latter, the design of Lou Ruvo serves both a functional role and a conceptual one. The complex design of Lou Ruvo Center is particularly reminiscent of the complex work that goes on within the health and research facility – treating and rehabilitating patients of Alzheimer’s disease. Each of the two main sections of the Lou Ruvo has an important part to play in completing the function of the center, as with the duality of the purposes served by the brain. A breezeway eases the transition between the two buildings while providing occupants with an ideal environment to relax. From the choice of materials to choice of equipments incorporated in either building, the efficiency of the building in conserving energy is apparent. Perhaps the most important aspect of the building, however, is the environment provided for patients, who benefit from interiors that radiate hope, inspiration and delight.

 

 

 

 

[1] Jodidio, Philip. 2012. Architecture now! Architektur heute = L'architecture d'aujourd'hui 8 = 8 =. Köln: Taschen.

[2] David Basulto. "Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health / Frank Gehry" 22 Jun 2010.

[3] Jodidio, Philip. 2012. Architecture now! Architektur heute = L'architecture d'aujourd'hui 8 = 8 =. Köln: Taschen.

[4] Cummings J, K Zhong, and C Bernick. 2014. "The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health: keeping memory alive". Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD. 38 (1): 103-9.

[5] Chung, Stephen. 2014. Cool spaces!: The best new architecture : art spaces, libraries, performance spaces, healing spaces. [novato, ca ]: Oro editions.

[6] Ibid

[7] Jong, Cees de, Erik Mattie, Sophie Roulet, and Bert de Muynck. 2015. The colours of... Frank O. Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Wang Shu, BIG, Stefano Boeri, Zaha Hadid, Herzog & de Meuron, Steven Holl Architects, Toyo Ito, Lui Jiakun, Michael Malzan Architecture, Giancarlo Mazzanti, Enric Ruiz-Geli, Cloud 9, SANAA. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhäuser

[8] Giovannini, J. April 01, 2011. Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Architect, 100, 4, 84-92.

[9] Jodidio, Philip. 2012. Architecture now! Architektur heute = L'architecture d'aujourd'hui 8 = 8 =. Köln: Taschen.

[10] Chung, Stephen. 2014. Cool spaces!: The best new architecture : art spaces, libraries, performance spaces, healing spaces. [novato, ca ]: Oro editions.

[11] Ibid

[12] Giovannini, J. April 01, 2011. Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Architect, 100, 4, 84-92.

[13] Ibid

[14] Ibid

[15] "Colour of the mind : Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas". 2015.

[16] Lemonier, Aurélien, Frédéric Migayrou, Frank O. Gehry, and Frank O. Gehry. 2015. Frank Gehry. Munich; New York

[17] Ibid

[18] Ibid

 

 

 

BIBLIOGRPAHY

 

"Colour of the mind : Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas". 2015.

 

Chung, Stephen. 2014. Cool spaces!: The best new architecture: art spaces, libraries, performance spaces, healing spaces. [novato, ca ]: Oro editions.

 

Cummings J, K Zhong, and C Bernick. 2014. "The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health: keeping memory alive". Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD. 38 (1):      103-9.

 

David Basulto. "Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health / Frank Gehry" 22 Jun 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 15 Oct 2015.     http://www.archdaily.com/65609/center-for-brain-health/

 

Giovannini, J. April 01, 2011. Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Architect, 100, 4, 84-92.

Jodidio, Philip. 2012. Architecture now! Architektur heute = L'architecture d'aujourd'hui 8 = 8 =. Köln: Taschen.

 

Jong, Cees de, Erik Mattie, Sophie Roulet, and Bert de Muynck. 2015. The colours of... Frank O. Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Wang Shu, BIG, Stefano Boeri, Zaha Hadid, Herzog &       de Meuron, Steven Holl Architects, Toyo Ito, Lui Jiakun, Michael Malzan Architecture, Giancarlo Mazzanti, Enric Ruiz-Geli, Cloud 9, SANAA. Basel,             Switzerland: Birkhäuser

 

Lemonier, Aurélien, Frédéric Migayrou, Frank O. Gehry, and Frank O. Gehry. 2015. Frank Gehry. Munich; New York

 

Nickl-Weller, C., & Nickl, H. 2013. Hospital architecture. Salenstein, Switzerland: Braun.