The Center for Innovative Thinking establishes a new home for university wide creative, research-based programs within Yale’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. The center brings together students from diverse disciplines to generate innovative solutions to real world problems. The program, unique to the university, is based around team workshops and courses that allow students to bring their ideas to fruition. The building’s elliptical form becomes a counterpoint to the site, a rectangular courtyard shaped by the backs of six orthogonal structures. Curved transparent glass walls encourage circulation around and into the center, inviting the rest of the university to see and participate in the programs within. Connections between the center and its surroundings create a new accessible circulation route and destination within the engineering precinct on campus. Within the center, open studios, meeting spaces and offices foster opportunities for spontaneous discussion and provide links between public areas and adjacent instructional space. In keeping with Yale’s commitment to sustainability, the project will replace the current underused paved plaza rooftop with a new planted garden encouraging activity year-round. The combination of connectivity, sustainability and new group work spaces establishes the Center for Innovative Thinking as a 24-hour nexus at a strategic location on campus. Currently invisible to campus and city beyond, the paved rooftop ia transformed into a newly legible garden destination for cross disciplinary collaboration. The prow of the pavilion, framed by landmark buildings adjacent, is visible from Prospect Street, announcing the location of the center.
