Louis I. Kahn, Designing the Salk Institute

Completed in 1965, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of architect Louis I. Kahn's finest works and an international icon of modern architecture. Kahn was commissioned by Jonas Salk, developer of the polio vaccine, to design an inspiring campus for his new scientific research institute, to be located on a coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Kahn's design consists of two nearly identical wings of laboratory, study, and office space mirroring each other on either side of a paved central plaza. The exterior materials palette consists of concrete, teak, glass, travertine, lead, and steel.

Set within the concrete walls of the study towers and office wings are 203 teak window wall assemblies, which consist of different combinations of the horizontal sliding window, louver, and shutter sashes that allow staff to control light and air in their workspaces. The assemblies were constructed using teak structural members and softwood framing, with the exterior faces clad in vertical teak siding and the interior faces clad in oak paneling and gypsum board.

Although the assemblies were prefabricated, each one has a handcrafted quality due to the carpenters' detailing and customization of the units to fit into the many different sized wall openings. The window walls are significant elements of the site, expressing a human element and scale within the monumental structure. They are also significant within Kahn's larger body of work, as they expand upon a language of custom exterior millwork designed and established in his office.