Caltrans District 7 Headquarters

The entire eastern and western façades of the Caltrans District 7 Headquarters are composed of a double skin of metal screens that open and close depending on outside temperatures. The porous nature of the screens create a movement of perception throughout the day, from a solid metal box at noon to one of translucence in the evening. The southern façade is covered almost entirely in solar panels, producing about 5% of the building's energy needs. At night, the red and blue neon tubes of Keith Sonnier's art piece, 'Motordom', light up the courtyard. Casting the courtyard into an eerie light, these luminescent strips evoke the movement and fluidity of the 'car culture' in Los Angeles.