Nelson Fine Arts Center, by Antoine Predock
Nelson Fine Arts Center, in Tempe, designed by Antoine Predock. The building defines a journey, a procession; it defines options and potentials rather than particular paths. It is an open matrix of possibilities for engagement both vertically and horizontally. Art galleries extend the procession. They are anchored by exterior terraces for sculpture installations. These terraces are partly shaded by steel-plate trellises. The gallery sequence is open ended; visitors can use the sculpture terraces to explore inside and out, or they can proceed indoors to the large upper gallery, which has the highest ceilings and straddles the main entry.