The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health Introduction: Architect: Frank Gehry Location: Las Vegass, Nevada Year of completion: 2010 Function of the building: research and treatment center for sufferers of degenerative brain diseases Cost of construction: $100 million Front Back Medical building The Life Activity Center Breezeway the Reflection Garden Description & Background information: The distorted and fantastical Life Activity Centre (LAC) represents left-brain which is best at handling expressive and creative tasks The rational and conventional medical building symbolizes right-brain, the part that is better at processing that involve logic, language and analytical thinking Mr. Gehry designed such a unique clinic because his wife and three brothers-in-law were suffered from Huntington's disease. He understands the importance on the research on brain health and preserving memory. Therefore he designed the Ruvo centre as a contribution for brain disease sufferers and researchers. Process of the creation of Ruvo Center:

Reasons of my choice: Exterior: Innovative, awe-inspiring and provoking design of exterior of the Life Activity Center can arouse awareness to the research, support and medical treatment of brain health from all around the globe. Even though the LAC is just an event space that host many different kinds of activities and occasions, profits from these events can raise fund to help carrying out additional research in the medical building. The general public can use the Ruvo Center for holding events. That means the building is not exclusive for patients, staff and researchers, normal people can use it too “What does the building mean? It symbolizes hope.” —Frank Gehry. I like the idea that the design really carry a positive message. The fact that Mr Gehry express his care of brain-relate-disease sufferers through the design can surely motivate the community Although the design seems to be an improvisation, we can actually see the crude details and the casual juxtaposition of spaces in the entire architecture, especially the LAC. I am surprised by the precision and accuracy of the production of windows and steel shingles. Interior: The design of the interior space really considered what the users need. Abundant amount of sunlight stream through various windows, which create a sense of harmony and joy to the atmosphere. It somehow ease the anxiety of patients and their families. Design really cares the emotion and feeling of patients. For example, to avoid patients thinking of the never-ending journey down long, straight hallways, the corridors are slightly curved. Also, to lower the harsh white glare that was always seen from doctors’ office and hospital, the artificial light here are turned upward. It provides balanced glow as the light is reflected from the ceilings.

Features Not balanced, not built according to proportion, not symmetrical, like a combination of distorted blocks There are 199 windows, none of them are the same and there are 18,000 stainless steel shingles, each cut to unique measurements Light and Mass: Organic shape of the building creates strong contrast of lights and shadow. The contrast is very marked in the curvilinear metal facade Rhythm: dynamic, rhythmic Controlled chaos. Texture: Aluminum – to compel the intertwined stainless steel facade. The shiny surface of aluminum reflects sunlight and make the building stand out even at daytime. Windows in the skin -- set at every angle. They are computerized as different shapes as a way of conserving heat or air conditioning Name: Hui Yuk Yi Student ID: s Special feature: Patients at the Ruvo Center do not sit in nameless waiting rooms; instead they waited in a lobby filled with natural daylight. It immediately made them forgot the memories of sterile medical interiors. The warm and relaxing made them feel that they are blessed by the architecture and the staff.