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Information Sciences and Technology Building

Coordinates: 40°47′37″N 77°52′06″W / 40.79370°N 77.86836°W / 40.79370; -77.86836
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Westgate Building
North side view of the Westgate building
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
LocationUniversity Park, Pennsylvania
Current tenantsPenn State College of Information Sciences and Technology
Opened2004
Cost$58.8 million
Technical details
Floor area199,000 square feet (18,500 m2)
Design and construction
Architecture firmRafael Viñoly Architects, New York City, and Perfido Weiskopf Architects, Pittsburgh
Main contractorTurner Construction Company

The Westgate Building, formerly known as Information Sciences and Technology Building (commonly known as the IST Building) is a classroom building at Pennsylvania State University. Construction was completed in January 2004.

History and architectural features

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This building was designed by the acclaimed architect Rafael Vinoly. According to the Penn State IST website, the design of the building "began as an inkpen sketch on a paper dinner napkin." He characterizes the building as "a labor of love . . . my own personal obsession for years", stating that, in the beginning, it seemed "crazy and extreme" to construct an S-shaped building over North Atherton Street. According to the Penn State IST Website, "His firm, Rafael Vinoly Architects, New York, partnered with Perfido Weiskopf Architects, Pittsburgh, for the design inspired by the Ponte Vecchio in Florence." Despite its name, this building currently is the home of both the Pennsylvania State University Computer Science department, in addition to the IST department.

In order to "better represent the building’s many uses", the building was renamed the Westgate Building.[1]

References

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Notes
  1. ^ "IST Building to be renamed, rooms renumbered | Penn State University".

40°47′37″N 77°52′06″W / 40.79370°N 77.86836°W / 40.79370; -77.86836