Caltech Keck Institute — Pasadena, CA

Architect: Lehrer Architects

Located at the heart of Caltech’s Pasadena campus, the Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) blends historic preservation with contemporary design. In collaboration with Lehrer Architects, this project involved restoring the Mission-style Tolman-Bacher House and adding a complementary, modern 4,600 SF academic building.

Careful structural detailing addressed shear strength challenges along the discontinuous diaphragm, ensuring architectural elegance and structural integrity. Connected by a central loggia, the new and historic structures create a cohesive dialogue between past and present.