The new Museum of Art and Design, to be built on the campus near downtown San Jose, seeks to inspire the campus and community to explore the past, present, and future influences of art and design on our lives. The new museum is estimated to have a project cost of $12 million and approximately 35,000 sf of built program.

Cambridge Seven’s conceptual design proposes to enclose the Museum with an interactive animated membrane: media wrap-a 21st Century agora-fostering constant public dialog between campus and community through the integration of art, technology, and human activity.

At the ground level, the museum’s combined program of a public lobby, reception, café, courtyard and media viewing area activate the campus’ abutting walkways. At this level, the ‘media wrap’ passes under the gallery volumes and leads people under the mass of the building. A variety of shaded and open space is provided by the building’s large underbelly, inviting its use as circulation and gathering space. This undercut space combined with a strategically located light well and courtyard provides passive cooling for the building offices, studios, and classrooms through a stack effect.