Cornell University and Steven Holl Architects announced today (July 11) that they had mutually agreed to dissolve their relationship for the design of the proposed new home for the university's Department of Architecture.

Steven Holl Architects (SHA) was the winner of an invited architecture design competition sponsored by the College of Architecture, Art and Planning. The $25 million project is intended to provide new studio space and other related services and offices for the Department of Architecture, as well as a major auditorium and other classrooms. The envisioned facility will be a highly visible building at a prominent entrance to the university, adjacent to historic Sibley Hall. The internationally recognized members of the selection jury reviewed four finalist presentations in April 2001 and made their unanimous recommendation to Cornell President Hunter Rawlings immediately thereafter.

Harold D. Craft Jr., vice president for administration and chief financial officer of the university, commented on the decision: "Steven Holl Architects is an excellent firm that produced an outstanding design concept for a much-needed new architecture facility at Cornell. Converting that design concept into detailed plans that would meet the program developed by the department was a difficult assignment for all involved. We appreciate the effort that SHA gave to this task. The university is grateful for the exciting ideas that the firm provided throughout the competition and subsequent discussions."

Steven Holl commented: "Like a brain surgeon operating on his own brain, making architecture for an architecture school is a peculiarly difficult challenge. I've been involved in the process of five different architecture schools over the past 13 years and believe it is one of the most difficult architectural commissions. The unresolvable dialogue with Cornell is indeed an unfortunate situation. Our hope was to make an idea-driven and fine building for future students."

The new facility, to be located at the gateway to the northern end of Cornell's central campus, has been made possible by a lead gift of $10 million from the Milstein family.