Philadelphia architecture firm KieranTimberlake was recently honored in a way that most companies only dream of.
Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake were commissioned to design the U.S. Embassy in London. Both men graduated from the Penn School of Fine Arts — now the Penn School of Design — and are currently adjunct professors of architecture at Penn.
Though the winning design has been chosen, the project is not slated for completion until 2017.
About 16 months ago, KieranTimberlake and 37 other firms submitted qualifications to the U.S. State Department. The State Department then narrowed the group down to four competitors, who engaged in a design competition.
After visiting Washington D.C. and London, the two architects began formulating their vision for the building. They were busy designing the embassy from July to December 2009, when the winner was announced.
“We felt very strongly that landscape has a strong connection to urban fabrics,” Timberlake said, explaining their inspirations.
The two architects worked with Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning Professor Laurie Olin to design a building that integrates landscape from the bottom all the way to the top. Sporadic aerial gardens, for example, will provide a space for people to convene.
“This plan creates an alternate to a large atrium,” Timberlake said.
KieranTimberlake’s design was deemed the most environmentally ethical building of the final four.
Among the “great number” of sustainable features is a series of systems that will process water, renew energy and allow the building to be carbon-neutral and a net-energy exporter by the time it’s built, Timberlake said.
In addition to meeting or exceeding all environmental requirements, KieranTimberlake’s unique materials for the design impressed the jury.
The building will be made of glass and a thin, plastic-like film called ETFE. Though most architects in the past have used opaque elements to create a bold style and sense of security, KieranTimberlake reversed that approach and used transparent elements.
Timberlake claims their innovative style stems directly from their Penn education.
“Kieran and I took away a deep understanding of a process that would allow us to design any type of building,” he said. “I think what excited me most about standing next to Ambassador Susman in London on the day of the announcement was that the project is great for Philadelphia and great for the University of Pennsylvania.”
School of Design Dean Marilyn Taylor agreed that the prestigious award is an honor for the school.
“This highly visible international award helps in Penn Design’s ongoing effort to make a difference in cities and neighborhoods around the world,” she said.
Architecture student Jason Smith said although most students at Penn already know about the previous accomplishments of the two professors, “it’s very possible that people will come to the school when they hear about this high profile project.”
