EXTERIOR, LANDSCAPING & FUN FACTS

The Audrey Irmas Pavilion is designed for gathering, forging new connections with the existing campus activities and inviting the urban realm in to create a new civic entity subtle enough to complement the iconic existing Temple.

OMA’s (Office of Metropolitan Architecture) approach is simple yet contextual. The starting point was a box: the all-too-generic model for an event space. The basic box was shaped to respect the historical buildings on the campus.

On the west side, the building slopes away from the existing Temple, creating a thoughtful buffer and framing a new courtyard between the two buildings. The pavilion leans south, away from the historic school, opening an existing courtyard to the sky and bringing light in. The parallelogram simultaneously reaches out toward the main urban corridor, Wilshire Boulevard, to establish a new urban presence. The resulting form is carved by its relationship to its neighbors. It is both enigmatic and familiar, creating a counterpoint to the Temple that is at once deferential and forward-looking.

A single hexagon unit with a rectangular window is rotated to reflect the program within and aggregated to create a distinct pattern. The
panels enhance the building’s volumetric character while adding a human-scaled texture that breaks down its mass. These hexagonal panels subtly reference the signature pattern of the octagons found on the ceiling of the historic Temple sanctuary. Because of the hexagonal geometry, there are no readily apparent vertical lines in the façade, creating an overall impression that emphasizes the volumetric character of the building. The overall façade acts as a screen that, when internally lit, creates a perforated- lantern-like, glowing effect.

Event spaces often sacrifice character for flexibility. Here, flexibility is provided through diversity in scale and spatial characters for gathering. The pavilion consists of three distinct gathering spaces expressed as voids punctured through the building – a main event space (large), a chapel and terrace (medium), and a sunken garden (small). The three spaces are interlocked and stacked atop each other to establish vantage points in and out of each space. Every interior event space has a corresponding exterior courtyard or terrace. Each of the three distinct spaces have different material characters.

A few general and FUN FACTS about the Audrey Irmas Pavilion

  • 1,230 hexagon panels on exterior façade
    (approx. 6 feet each)
  • 500 windows
  • 110 interior and exterior doors
  • 11,000 square feet of sealed concrete
  • 7,000 square feet of ceramic tile
  • 14,000 square feet of Terrazzo
  • 5,000 square feet of wood flooring
  • 248 risers (stair steps)
  • 7,500 concrete pavers
  • 57 trees
  • 780 shrubs
  • 3,400 square feet of ground cover
  • 1,000 lighting fixtures
  • 56 exit signs
  • 640 outlets
  • 67 security cameras
  • 340 data drops
  • 100,000 lineal feet of electrical conductors
  • 20,000 lineal feet of low voltage cabling
  • 500,000 lbs of rebar
  • 1,000 tons of steel
  • 1,100 lineal feet of glass guardrail
  • 7,100 square feet of curtain wall
  • 2,800 square feet of decomposed granite
  • Rainwater is captured, stored and used to irrigate the landscape.

 

THE WILSHIRE PATIO proudly features our donor pavers.

There are a total of 156 pavers placed from West to East so that families will have our beautiful sanctuary as a backdrop when taking photos. From the Wilshire Patio, the multi-door entrance into the Audrey Irmas Pavilion is named for the Leichtman-Levine Family Foundation.

The 3532 sq. ft. area can be set for a reception with a capacity of 116 guests or 50 for a seated dinner.
The landscaping for this area includes various trees and shrubs: Jacaranda and Thornless Honey Locust, Douglas Iris, Slender Veldt Grass, Berkeley Sedge, Pacific Wax Myrtle, and Bush Anemone.

ARTWORK: In the future, the five square cement pedestals at the front of each row will feature an art installation from various artists.

 

THE IRMAS FAMILY COURTYARD
This area, between the Sanctuary and the West entrance to the Audrey Irmas Pavilion was previously at the base of the staircase from the original Harvard parking lot.

The 3910 sq ft. area is the gateway from the parking structure to Wilshire Boulevard. The east entrance/exit from the sanctuary will be a well-travelled area. Fun fact: the medallion featured in the center of the walkway is the wording that was previously featured on the wall of the Siegel Family Patio. This patio has the capacity to host 250 guests. This beautiful entrance is named for the Steven F. Roth Family Foundation. The landscaping in this area features Central Australian Palm Trees.

THE SIEGEL FAMILY COURTYARD

This area is at the top of the stairs to the Audrey Irmas Pavilion. The location is ideal for a small party. It is 1744 sq feet and will accommodate 50 guests for a seated dinner, or 116 for a reception. The lovely entrance to the Audrey Irmas Pavilion is named for Eli & Edythe Broad.