cooper union new bldg

From earlier this year, Cooper Union's new academic building has been taking its unique shape on 3rd Avenue/Bowery. This morning, as I passed by the site - designed by architect Thom Mayne and his firm, Morphosis, in collaboration with Gruzen Samton LLP - with the bright sun reflecting off of the silver facade, I took a few shots as seen here. I thought the big unveiling would happen by the new school year {now}, but from what I see, I think that might be a bit aggressive. My favorite element is the signage for the school {top image} where the words The Cooper Union is severed by a slightly-angled plane - and the parts of the letters that are getting cut off are the void shapes cut out from that plane. {hmm, don't think I am explaining this well...} The horizontal plane, the sign, and the material creates such a detailed + unique but functional {identifies the building and creates protection form the sun and rain} experience as you walk under it. The skater kids are already taking advantage of the big concrete structural piece angled from the building into the ground...I myself am looking forward to the completion of this dynamic building that is changing the streetscape of this area...