Shohei Shigematsu discusses OMA’s process for designing the extension to the Albright Knox Gallery in Buffalo. He describes the challenges of balancing preservation with function and how the gallery was built to address that issue. Shigematsu also discusses other projects, such as the Quebec Museum, and talks about the importance of the client in the client-architect relationship as well as OMA’s philosophy of allowing themselves to be transparent and honest with clients during the design process. 

Learning objectives: 

1. List three main factors Shigematsu names as influences on how OMA design the Albright Knox Gallery. 
2. Describe the main elements of the Albright Knox Gallery design and what problem is was solving.
3. Describe, from Shigematsu’s perspective, why OMA might have won the bid for the Albright Knox Gallery. 
4. Explain one of the pitfalls of city design that Shigematsu feels architects should pay more attention to. 

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz