George Nikolajevich, FAIA Cannon Design St. Louis, Missouri
Rafael Pelli, AIA Cesar Pelli & Associates New York, New York
Jane Weinzapfel, FAIA Leers Weinzapfel Associates Boston, Massachusetts
Sony Center Berlin
Location
Berlin, Germany
Architect
Murphy/Jahn Inc.
Client/Owner
Sony with TishmanSpeyer Properties and Kajima
General Contractor
Hochtief AG. Berlin (general); Josef Gartner & Co. and Fa. Gotz (facade)
Consultant(s)
BGS Ingenieursozietat and Ove Arup & Partners (structural); Werner Sobek Ingenieure GmbH (special structures); Jaros Baum & Bolles and Ingenieurgesellschaft Hopfner mbH (mechanical); Peter Walker & Partners (landscape)
Photographer
Engelhardt/Sellin Photography
"a terrific overall composition"
Mega-projects are usually compelling from a distance but often stumble when they meet the street. The jury was impressed that the Sony Center not only creates a nice dialogue with neighboring buildings but also animates the pedestrian scene at its base. They found the vast interior Forum a bit intimidating but "very high energy." The roof over the Forum is an elliptical umbrella providing shading and protection from the elements. One- third of the roof is glazed and two-thirds are a cable-reinforced fiberglass membrane. All components of the building enclosure are state-of-the-art construction technology.
