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, continuous sight lines throughout unite spaces of creation and research, supporting interdisciplinary discourse. Open studios, meeting spaces and offices foster opportunities for spontaneous discussion and provide links between public areas and adjacent instructional space.
