Thom Mayne frames a bold Emerson College

The $110-million Emerson College building is a 10-story cube wrapped in metal panels and a gridded pattern of sunshades.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Architect Thom Mayne worked with the Culver City firm Morphosis on the Emerson building.  (Christina House / For The Times)

The 10-story Emerson College makes for a towering presence on Sunset.  (Christina House / For The Times)

The Emerson campus includes several terraces.  (Christina House / For The Times)

The interior of the Emerson towers features a wavy metal scrim that functions as both sunshade and eye-catching decoration.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Various bridges connect the winding forms of the Emerson campus.   (Christina House / For The Times)

The Emerson College design features bold touches.  (Christina House / For The Times)

The design of Emerson College conjures an interesting play of shadows.   (Christina House / For The Times)

The goal of the Emerson building, according to the firm Morphosis, is to evoke “the concentrated energy of East Coast metropolitan centers in an iconic Los Angeles setting.”  (Christina House / For The Times)

The boxy Emerson building brings to mind a Hollywod stage set.  (Christina House/For The Times)

A lecture hall on the Emerson campus.  (Christina House / For The Times)