It's very stark, but really effective at the same time. Enough is sharp and visible that the mind fills in the rest. Very cool. It's hard to find highlights that Van Dyke can't handle, though! I'd bet with more exposure you'd get more detail in the highlights.
A pleasing departure from the discipline of "every detail must be shown"...
I would go on to say that broadening our acceptance of departures from the norm is conducive to and required for the formation of an artistic appreciation and orientation. If we lay claim to the title of "artist" and are not primarily "illustrators", then we would benefit from developing that part of ourselves. Severe judgements of departures from the norm are usually self defeating.
I believe that this image is about aspects of form and as such it succeeds.
From an artistic side, viewing this photograph as art, I do find this image more interesting and exciting. When you stated if was for a school however, I know that most clients want more of a literal documentation of what they wanted photographed.
As art, this could be an interesting technical aspect to explore, with overexposing images to only show a few select areas, therefore making the viewer really piece together the image in their mind.
Ryan the University loved it
They did not wanted a literal photograph as much as they wanted to show the new building in a creative light after all they are there to challenge the orthodox conventions