Art History Class: Klimt Inspires ADD’s Massachusetts College of Art and Design

An addition to the Boston skyline may spark a flicker of recognition in fans of Gustav Klimt. His vibrant Tree of Life paintings inspired the 21-story facade of a residence hall that architecture firm ADD built at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design: Aluminum-composite panels in five widths and custom colors, ranging from tree-bark brown to leaf green, clad everything but the low-e solar-tinted windows.

Certified LEED Silver, the building boasts high energy efficiency, low-flow plumbing fixtures, materials with recycled content, and Forest Stewardship Council–certified woods including western hemlock. The interior’s 146,000 square feet means plenty of sleeping, lounging, and studying space for 493 students. It was their idea, in fact, to make their home look like a Klimt.