It's All High Tech To Me

I was going to post a photo of the entryway to the Guggenheim building at Caltech, but I like this shot better. Like yesterday's photo, I took this one inside on the second floor.

From the two shots, yesterday's and today's, you'd might guess the Guggenheim is a sleek, 21st century building but the exterior is actually more classic-looking. Inside, though, it's all high tech with natural light, modern art and glass display cases showing old documents and artifacts from early Caltech work.

The transition from classic, late 1920's exterior to modern interior is due to a renovation by John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects, completed in 2008. The linked article shows a photo of the interior of the conference room above; be sure and check out the slide show, too.

I'm intrigued by the document on display in the foreground. Could it be some world-saving formula, typed by Einstein's secretary?

Some of my titles are better than others.

For more Caltech photos, click on the Caltech label below.

Serene Science

Speaking of happy accidents, today I came across this photo in my files. I knew I had taken it at Caltech, but couldn't remember exactly where.

One day nearly two years ago (and I assure you I'm not digressing), Boz and I met a woman walking her dog. I had my camera, as always, and when I called to Boz the woman recognized his name. "You're the Pasadena Daily Photo lady," she said, or words to that effect.

Long story short: we became friends. It turned out she worked at Caltech and she invited me for a tour of the campus. I took this photo on that tour in March of 2009.

I don't know why I haven't posted it before except I forgot I had it, and in all that time I forgot what it was. So when I came across it I dashed off an email to my friend to ask her what it is.

She said this room is "on the second floor the Guggenheim building on campus (one of those flanking the Olive Walk between the Athenaeum and the turtle pond). This building houses GALCIT, the Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology." She sent me the link, too. If you click it you'll see a photo of a fantastic balloon. I got a picture of it deflated, which is cool but not as cool as seeing it full-blown. The Guggenheim building has an attractive entryway. Maybe I'll post that tomorrow.

My generous friend is Bellis, a regular commenter here. I'd say meeting her was a happy accident except it wasn't an accident. We both have dogs, we both live in Pasadena, and we both like to walk our dogs in natural settings. You could say our meeting was a happy accident waiting to happen.

The Caltech campus is one of Pasadena's most beautiful places to walk. The sun has returned and we're having a gorgeous autumn. Enjoy.