The Communication Arts Complex represents Bangkok University as one of the finest facilities in the country. A group of buildings was planned around the central area of the campus, where the main library is also located. The central area, or inner pedestrian court, will be surrounded by future buildings. It starts its trajectory from the space underneath the central library, passes through a soon-to-be-erected building and finishes at the Communication Arts Complex space where it serves as a node to the expanding section of the campus.
In contrast with the tranquil space underneath
the central library, the Communication Arts Complex space will be filled with
an array of dazzling and lively activities, including an amphitheater for the
performing arts—one of the most important events in the complex’s academic
program.
Around this space, the complex splits into three buildings for three different
purposes and with three different engineering approaches.
The first building, housing a classroom and the
faculty office, is approached from the main access thoroughfare and has a simple
but sleek structure with curved forms that catch the eye and lead to the
central circular space.
The second building contains the studio,
conference room, and black box in a wide structure with compartmentalized
service areas. The facilities inside are erected with appropriate dimensions
for perfect acoustics and for broadcasting performances.
The third building, a multipurpose classroom and
laboratory, is a nine-story high-rise building (to reduce the footprint). The
first three stories interconnect with the other buildings in the complex. The
fourth to eighth floors contain classrooms and are served by vertical
circulation, including elevators.
Inspired by media walls and billboards, the
articulation of the buildings is treated as a floating solid mass on top of a
glazed wall, or freestanding column. The warehouse appearance of the black box is achieved with
corrugated-steel cladding, which is also applied to other parts of the
building. The performing studios were also planned on the second floor so that
they can be seen from the central court, or as far away as the central library.