Located on the Columbia University Campus, the Barnard College Diana Center is an award-winning project designed by New York Architects - Weiss/Manfredi. The seven-story multi-use arts center features a stunning architectural decorative glass facade which functions as both a standout design element and an energy-efficient exterior. When designing the building, Weiss/Manfredi aimed to remove visual boundaries, unifying the architecture and landscape and creating a space filled with natural light.
To further differentiate the design, Weiss/Manfredi installed the 1100 decorative glass panels in a varied pattern, creating an intricate curtain wall system. Although the complexity of the pattern defies easy recognition, there are only three types of decorative glass panels used in the building's curtain wall. It illustrates a portion of the chaos theory: simple systems can breed complexity. The result is a luminous decorative glass facade that emulates the brick and terra cotta colors of the neighboring buildings, while incorporating a modern twist.