Dome

View across the entry atrium from the southeast; Located across the street from his first major commission, the Yale University Art Gallery (1953), the Yale Center is Kahn's final work and was completed after his death in 1974. It was the first museum in the United States to incorporate retail shops in its design. The Center's exterior of matte steel and reflective glass confers a monumental presence in downtown New Haven. The geometrical, four-floor interior is designed around two courtyards and is comprised of a restrained palette of natural materials (travertine marble, white oak, and Belgian linen). Kahn succeeded in creating intimate galleries where one can view objects in diffused natural light. He wanted to allow as much daylight as possible to enjoy the collection, with artificial illumination used only on dark days or in the evening. The building's design, materials, and sky-lit rooms combine to provide an environment for the works of art that is simple and dignified. It received the AIA Twenty-Five Year Award in 2004. The Yale Center for British Art was erected to house the largest, most comprehensive collection of British art outside the U.K (donated and endowed by Paul Mellon). Source: Yale Center for British Art; http://ycba.yale.edu (accessed 1/3/2008)