43 minute read
Product Developments
from Architectural Products - July/August 2021
by Buildings & Construction Group
Best Practices in Multi-Family ›› Precast Panels
by Terri Ward Metromont Corp. member AltusGroup
A Concrete Pearl
e Pearl is a multi-family apartment complex located within a 43-acre urban, mixed-use redevelopment just north of downtown Tampa, Fla., in the historic neighborhood of Tampa Heights. As the fi rst new structures in the redevelopment project, the three apartment buildings—with 314 dwelling units and 28,000 sq. ft. of retail space—established the architectural character for the new district. e buildings are organized around a fi ve-level 500-space precast parking structure and central courtyard. Precast concrete components from Metromont Corp.’s Bartow, Fla., plant about 50 miles to the east— including CarbonCast High Performance Insulated
Wall Panels, Metromont’s proprietary MetroDeck fl oor and roof system, balconies, stairs and stair towers—played a pivotal role in realizing the owner’s aesthetic, structural and timeline demands. Place Architecture sought to create a contemporary aesthetic that respected the area’s industrial past. And at seven stories tall and more than 500 ft. in length, the two larger buildings presented a design challenge of breaking down the scale of the buildings to refl ect the character of the neighborhood. Six diff erent precast fi nishes—such as three colors of tinted concrete, textured patterns using formliners, and 11,000-sq.-ft. embedded thin brick— were incorporated into the exterior wall panels. e integral fi nishes lessened the need for on-site labor as well as future maintenance needs. “ e project was erected when the construction economy was at full speed before the pandemic and there were concerns about masonry labor,” said Tim Clemmons, principal at Place. “And had we used block, stucco and paint instead of precast, the building would need to be repainted every fi ve to 10 years.” On the interior, an urban, loft-style character was achieved by leaving the interior face of the wall panels exposed in both common areas and dwelling units. Additionally, exposed precast concrete slabs in common areas and exposed MetroDeck System concrete ceilings completed the look. From a code standpoint, the precast concrete delivered numerous benefi ts. e durable precast walls had no trouble meeting Tampa’s 150 MPH wind-load requirement. Fire ratings of one to two hours horizontally and vertically were realized more simply with precast’s inherent fi re resistance. e insulated CarbonCast walls also helped meet energy codes. “Florida has one of the stronger energy codes in the country,” explained Clemmons. e CarbonCast panels featured 4 in. of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation sandwiched between a 3-in. exterior wythe and a 4-in. interior wythe. Carbon fi ber grid trusses connected the wythes for strength and thermal effi ciency. “When it is erected, it is almost an R-20 assembly,” said Clemmons. “ e precast returns in the corner were designed to retain continuity of the insulation so you don’t get hot spots. e good insulation value reduces air conditioning sizes and costs.” e fi nal factor was speed. e owner wanted to reduce construction time to minimize fi nancial carrying costs. e total precast approach on two of the buildings reduced the construction time by about three months compared to alternate systems. In fact, despite being half of size of the two total precast apartments, the three-story block and plank structure took 55% longer to construct.
A CONCRETE FINISH Exposed concrete slabs in common areas and exposed MetroDeck System concrete ceilings helped complete the look at Tampa’s Pearl multi-family apartment complex.
material advances + product breakthroughs
Products Meet Technology
Technology can augment human design. AI is creating and printing new patterns faster than people could dream up.
Modular buildings made with integration of product and technology methodology, Project Frog (right) automates design and configuration, manufacturing interfaces, and other redundant processes in the AEC world.
MODULAR BUILDINGS A Kit of Parts
Project Frog, a leader in developing scalable Industrialized Construction (IC) solutions using an integrated building system product and technology approach, announced the availability of a componentized metal building. Designed to reduce overall cost, expedite build cycles and improve design efficiency the new structure still allows for architectural design. The non-combustible building can be deployed as classrooms, laboratories or kitchens, or used in regions impacted by wildfires. The building platform is currently under review by the Division of the State Architect (DSA) for inclusion as a PreCheck solution. “Our extensive experience in creating Kitof-Parts buildings allows us to offer the most cost-effective solution without sacrificing design flexibility,” said Dara Douraghi, Project Frog’s vice president of Architecture and Engineering. “Using our Industrialized Construction platform to help automate and speed design/build cycles delivers a huge benefit, particularly for the education market. With the addition of a metal solution, our clients now have a full range of options for classrooms, labs or kitchens, or to mitigate fire risk.”
New Metal Classrooms
Project Frog’s new metal building is a 4,000-sq.-ft. structure with four classrooms. Two of the four classrooms can be converted into a single, larger space. Architects can freely design both the interior and exterior façade as desired, contributing to the design flexibility of the solution. DSA pre-check approval is expected in the coming months.
This new building is part of the company’s componentized Kit-ofParts system enabling the design and deployment of buildings in short time frames, ideal for the limited build windows associated with schools.
COMPONENTS
ALL-IN-ONE All components are designed, fabricated and delivered using Project Frog’s Industrialized Construction (IC) process, which focuses on a Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) approach for easy off-site fabrication and on-site installation.
© Project Frog
Benefits of Metal Components
Project Frog’s light gauge steel wall panels are flexible and forgiving to work with, making them easy to assemble while still offering a high level of fabrication accuracy. This allows users to speed the build process without sacrificing quality or increasing costs. With a high level of durability, steel components stand up against elements, such as weather and pests, maintaining integrity and requiring little, if any, annual maintenance, so value is maintained over the life of the building. Finally, metal components also have a low percentage of waste, reducing overall project expense.
Project Frog www.projectfrog.com
CIRCLE 397
AI TECHNOLOGY Future Streetscapes
A balance between human and machine, 3D rendering and printing technology create objects, furniture, wall panels and even entire building façades. Some renderings to the left show examples of such ideations. Synthesis is the first AI-designed art walls. The design engine was programmed to create tens of thousands of patterns over 24 hours. Parameters such as style, color, pattern and texture are defined to create one-of-a-kind designs. Products are manufactured on demand. The fully customizable designs are formulated using a proprietary 3-D printing process in a concrete or painted finish in any color.
Proprietary 3-D printing shown in process.
Synthesis www.synthesis3d.com
CIRCLE 396
From left: Santorini, Nacci and Zen are all coffee tables from a 3D printed form and concrete mold. Available for purchase.
FURNITURE
WALLS
AWARDS Project of the Year Award Winners
Award winners were announced by ATAS for their 2020 Project of the Year competition. Each award recognizes projects in which ATAS products have been incorporated into the design and construction of the building. Six project categories are included in the competition: commercial roofs, commercial walls, residential roofs, residential walls, accents and interiors. Winners in each category were chosen by an independent panel of judges, comprised of advisory board members. Jim Bush, VP of Sales and Marketing for ATAS, stated, “It’s great to see the creative designs and quality craftsmanship incorporated into these buildings. The use of metal continues to grow and not only on the building enclosures; we are seeing increased use of metal for interiors as well.”
ATAS Intl. www.atas.com
CIRCLE 395 NATURAL PATINA For the commercial walls category, the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago, took first place; custom fabricated panels in 1.0-mm Gray Zinc were installed by Tuschall Engineering Co. The building was designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
Zinc was used because it is a natural and durable material that creates its own patina, which protects the material. The vertical panels accentuate the height of the building and were chosen to express the idea of connectivity on the façade. LEED Gold certification is being targeted.
METAL ACCENTS In the accents category, Lot H Parking Garage in Wilmington, Del., took first-place. Bernardon, the architectural firm on this project, used perforated 0.040 aluminum Belvedere 7.2-in. Rib panels in Titanium to create interesting screens on the garage’s facade. The panels were installed by A & H Metals, Inc.
ROOFING AND SOLAR The Riverview Branch Library in Riverview, Fl. received the first-place honors for commercial roofs. Field-Lok panels in Dove Grey 0.040 aluminum were used on this project. The 2-in. high standing seam panels provided a perfect platform over which solar panels were installed. The long service life of the metal roof panels will far outlast the life expectancy of the solar panels. Standing seam metal panels provide a natural platform for attaching crystalline systems without any roof penetrations. The building was designed by FleischmanGarcia Architecture, and the metal roof panels were installed by Alpha Roofing and Sheet Metal. The panels were purchased through Beacon Building Products. METAL WALLS A private residence in East Hampton, N.Y. won two first-place awards: in the residential walls category and the interiors category. Slate Grey 0.032 aluminum Standing Seam Shingles were installed by TRM Enterprises on the exterior and interior of this home. The house was designed by Bates Masi + Architects.
RESORT ROOFING Taking the first-place award in the residential roofs category was the Elysian Beach Resort in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. A hurricane damaged the roof of this resort several years ago and the composite roof tile was replaced with ATAS’ diamond shaped CastleTop shingles in 0.032 aluminum Ascot White and installed by Rooftops Silicone Distributors.
RETROFIT Preserving Union Station’s Metal Frames in Historical Restoration Project
Thanks to super-thin vacuum insulated glazing units, Walter Robbs Architecture was able to restore Winston-Salem’s Union Station brick and limestone façade to its original glory.
Built in 1926, the historical WinstonSalem Union Station in Winston-Salem, N.C. lent a more cosmopolitan feel to the growing tobacco industry in the area and was key to bringing travel to the region. Designed in a Beaux Arts style with Neoclassical details by Fellheimer and Wagner, a prominent New York architectural firm that designed train stations throughout the U.S., the station closed its doors in 1970. It was then converted into a vehiclerepair garage until the city repurchased the large structure and decided to restore it.
“Because there were so many windows, it is one of the most significant features of this building and to keep them was critical,” explains Michelle McCullough, historical resource officer, city & county of Winston-Salem. However, in modernizing the building to meet current energy and thermalefficiency standards, the project team had to figure out how to fit a conventional 24-mm thick double glazed unit into the thinner historical metal frames.
“Insulated glass panels are much thicker than the original glass,” explains Michelle Portman Walter, senior project manager, Walter Robbs Architecture, Winston-Salem, N.C. “That wasn’t going to fit very well back into an historical steel sash that was intended only to have a piece of 0.25in. glass in it.” panes would not fit, so Walter Robbs Architecture was planning to install regular panes together with a second interior storm window.
Serendipity Intervenes In a stroke of serendipity, a Pilkington representative came into the architects’ office to give a presentation on a new product. “I was lucky enough to be in that presentation and decided right then and there that’s what the train station needed— the Spacia glass,” recalls Walter.
At just 6.2mm, the vacuum insulated glazing was the perfect fit for the 1,600 large glass units that needed replacing and offered a high-performance insulation inside a very thin overall profile. Though the building had at least a dozen different types of windows, because the Spacia glazing is already a customized product, there was no added cost to further customize the panes to different sizes, explains Kyle Sword, manager business development, Pilkington North America, Toledo.
Pleased with the abundance of daylighting and preservation of historical details, McCullough states, “I consider the end of this story to be a success story for the city of Winston-Salem. Walking into this building gives you something to be proud of in your community.”
Pilkington www.pilkington.com
1926
HISTORICAL STATION Built in 1926, the historic Winston-Salem Union Station was a brick and limestone building with a portico entrance and hundreds of large windows.
PRESERVING THE ORIGINAL SASH The ultra-thin Spacia glazing fit the 0.25-in. historical steel sash that the city wanted to preserve.
© Pilkington North America
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PUBLIC + CULTURAL From Dreams to Reality
Recently renovated Moynihan Train Hall celebrates a historic building, bringing adaptive reuse with spectacular daylighting together.
Opening New Year’s Day 2021, the Moynihan Train Hall project realizes a long-held New York dream. It fulfills the vision of U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who had proposed in the 1990s that the largely vacant James A. Farley Post Office Building—a New York City landmark—be transformed into a new transit hub and expansion to the overcrowded Penn Station. “This project proves that we can create contemporary, transformative and iconic architecture, while simultaneously revitalizing historically significant buildings, saving carbon, and enhancing daily life in our cities,” says Jon Cicconi, associate director, SOM. “The new architecture which is inserted within the historic building is modern, bold and contemporary, while respecting, celebrating and restoring original features of the existing historic building.” Moynihan Train Hall restores a sense of civic pride and dignity to a travel experience that so many commuters at Penn Station have endured for decades. It brings light to the concourses for the first time in more than 50 years, increases total concourse space by 50% and re-establishes the grandeur that was lost with the demolition of the original Penn Station. It evokes the aura of that original station through the creation of a series of four contemporary, dynamic skylight vaults that illuminate the entirety of the Main Concourse, and serve as a beacon for wayfinding within the entire complex. The shape of the sleek skylight vaults is inspired by the soaring skylights within McKim, Mead & White’s original design for Penn Station. They also celebrate the historic postal building’s original mail sorting room, which was illuminated by a skylight for the first three decades of its life. The glass was covered over during World War II, and the design you see today restores that space to its sky-lit state. The new skylight vaults are supported by three 150-ft.-long, built-up, bolted steel trusses which are original to the building. The delicate relationship between these massive trusses and the light, dynamic skylight structure draws on their intrinsic contrasts, and establishes a contemporary symbol for the historic building. The interiors of Moynihan Train Hall are finished in Tennessee Quaker Gray marble, a material used in both the original 8th Avenue post office and throughout many historic public buildings across the United States. The stone evokes a sense of warmth, calmness and grandeur—three ideals that characterized the original Penn Station and are essential to the design of civic architecture. For the architects, there is an enormous responsibility in designing a civic project that millions of people will pass through every year. “The design was a balancing act—it had to be modern and evoke the magnificent architectural heritage of both the historic Farley Building and the original Penn Station,” says Cicconi. This project has been in SOM’s office for more than 20 years. SOM first imagined what the Train Hall would look like in 1998, after Senator Moynihan proposed transforming the Farley Building into an extension of Penn Station. A project of this immense civic scale can take time to come together, but SOM has been part of the process nearly every step of the way. “We have worked on multiple designs in the last two decades. But it has also been a major team effort. What you see today is the result of hard work from the entire public-private partnership led by Empire State Development,” says Cicconi.
Dave Burk © Empire State Development | SOM
LIGHTWEIGHT GRIDSHELL SKYLIGHT Scope of Seele supply: 5,116 sq. m free-form steel-andglass roof (member-node system with tensioned cable); 3,384 insulating glass units with solar coating and frit; 670 tons structural steelwork, 3,463 sq. m roof surface over train hall, 1,264 sq. m roof surface over mid block hall, 389 sq. m roof surface for Farley Skylight.
Seele www.seele.com
CIRCLE 393
CEILING SYSTEMS Trend Spotlight: Architecturally Integrated Lighting
Embedding light coves, illuminating ledges or downlights incorporated into ceilings and ceiling tiles are nothing new. And yet, architecturally integrated lighting is hot right now. The reason? Interior designers, architects and building owners/operators are looking for the chief benefits lighting integration carries as they have been tasked with quickly renovating offices and buildings to accommodate new tenants and recreate old spaces post COVID-19.
Architecturally Integrated Lighting:
Reduces maintenance: When lighting is integrated with the ceiling at the manufacturer, it typically contains longer-lasting LEDs, often carrying a 20-year lifespan.
Reduces cost: In many cases, ceiling tiles and lighting are purchased as a system. Even when this isn’t the case, integrated lighting may be less costly, because it doesn’t need an aesthetically pleasing shell.
Streamlines installation: When it comes packaged together, ceiling or wall tiles require only a single installation.
Provides unique effects: When bulbs are hidden from view, light is soft, diffused and indirect. This creates a specific effect in the space that may need to be supplemented by local task lighting.
Improves ceiling ventilation: An integrated ceiling and lighting set can cause less of a disruption to ceiling-based MEP infrastructure. Architecturally integrated lighting can be incorporated into a space in several ways: ceiling panels; acoustic ceiling panels/tiles; coves; soffits/cornices valances that can be used with vaulted ceilings; and under cabinets.
SEE THE LIGHT The new Axiom Indirect Field Light Coves from Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions provide control over finished aesthetics by offering a variety of options and sizes with both ceiling-to-wall and ceiling-to-ceiling coves. They offer predictable lighting performance and perfect integration with select Armstrong MetalWorks and WoodWorks ceilings and suspension systems. The pre-fabricated corners can be modified if unexpected field conditions arise.
Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions www.armstrongceilings.com
CIRCLE 391 MORE THAN JUST BOOKS The $84.5-million Milner Library expansion and rejuvenation in Edmonton not only reinvented its former boxshaped structure into a flowing, angular, modern icon, but also reimagined its interior as a brighter, quieter, inviting, innovative public space. More than 71,000 sq. ft. of Rockfon’s ceiling panels were used in the six-story library to provide the necessary range of sound absorption throughout the project with NRC of 0.75 to 0.95. The majority of the library’s acoustic ceiling systems feature Rockfon Tropic with 3,200 panels of Cinema Black (NRC of 0.85) selected for the first and second floors.
Rockfon www.rockfon.com
CIRCLE 392
LIGHTING THE WAY The ecoustic Ceiling Edit acoustic ceiling tiles by Unika Vaev are both decorative and highly functional. They fit into any existing T-grid or drop-in suspended ceiling system, are available in five designs (Angle, Code, Data, Dot or Ray) and can be integrated with LED lights. Two sound-absorbing thicknesses are available; the 0.47-in. tiles are available in 15 colors and the 0.94-in. tiles are available in five neutral colors. They are produced with 100% PET (up to 80% recycled content).
Unika Vaev www.unikavaev.com
CIRCLE 390
ACOUSTICS Great Looks for Good Acoustics
Good acoustics don’t happen by accident, especially today when so many of the most popular materials— brick, concrete, glass and marble—manage sound so poorly. Good acoustics are the result of carefully selected materials that enable a space to effectively manage all the sound bouncing around in it. One performance metric that is important to consider when selecting sound-managing materials is the Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC). The NRC rating quantifies the average amount of sound energy that a material absorbs. A material with an NRC value of 0.00 reflects all the soundwaves that strike it. A material with an NRC value of 1.00 absorb it—100%. In short, the higher the NRC value, the better the material is at absorbing sound. Here are the typical NRC values for those popular materials mentioned earlier. Marble: 0.01 Glass: 0.05 Brick: 0.05 Concrete: 0.20 Consider selecting materials with higher NRC values in spaces where good acoustics are a design objective—busy hallways, atriums, and elevator lobbies, open office spaces, and areas where collaboration should be encouraged and facilitated. The good news is that there are many acoustical products today that look great and deliver interiors with good acoustics.
WOOD AESTHETIC THAT ABSORBS SOUND When Plunkett Raysich Architects designed the new building for the Madison Area Technical College’s Goodman South Campus, they selected a linear metal ceiling system that offered a biophilic design-friendly wooden aesthetic and effectively managed sound in the bustling corridors and common areas. The Planar linear metal ceiling from Rockfon has the look of a wooden ceiling, without the weight and maintenance issues associated with an actual wood ceiling. The design team at Plunkett Raysich specified the ceiling system in its oak woodgrain finish. Beyond beauty, this ceiling system is also adept at absorbing soundwaves and can satisfy design requirements that necessitate an NRC value of up to 0.90. In total, over 4,000-sq.-ft. of this metal ceiling system was installed down long stretches of the classroom-facing corridors and hung as suspended ceiling clouds above an upper loft area.
Rockfon www.rockfon.com
CIRCLE 389
VISUAL SOUNDSCAPE—ACOUSTIC ART The addition of the AKUART line of high-design acoustic art by Kirei provides architects and designers with sustainably-driven acoustic solutions that prioritize beauty and functionality. Made from green materials, AKUART’s four framed acoustic design elements—“On The Wall’ acoustic wall panels; ‘Hang With Me’ suspended panels; ‘Stand By Me’ free standing wall screens; and ‘Shelter Me’ acoustic desk screens —allow designers to select from a variety of art, including solid colors, pre-existing art, or custom images. Each canvas is machine washable, bleach-cleanable and can be printed on with high-resolution images and graphics as art, wayfinding, and interior accents. The absorber beneath the canvas is a high NRC (0.9), low VOC, Class A fire treated sound absorbing PET panel placed within a durable, coated aluminum frame.
Kirei www.kireiusa.com
CIRCLE 388 UNIQUE PATTERNS The Ecoustic Matrix Tile presents bold 3-D design that will add depth and modern beauty to any space and can be used on walls and ceilings to absorb and diffuse sound. Subtle and commanding patterns can be created by mixing 34 colors and altering the orientation of the tiles to build formations that play with light and shadow. The acoustic panels visually soften the space, and add a visual representation to the perceptible improved acoustic quality, achieving a NRC rating of 0.70.
Unika Vaev www.unikavaev.com
SURFACES Let Your Walls Float to the Background
Color trends come and go. So do decorative wall fashions. But the plain, monochromatic wall style will always be right here among us. That’s because it’s simple, easy to accessorize and flexible.
The monochromatic wall gives designers the freedom to:
Accessorize: A plain colored wall creates opportunities to showcase furniture, furnishings and accessorize just about any space. Unique pieces don’t stand out unless the background is, well—just background.
Build an accent wall: Employ different color, textures and materials to create an accent wall. Tips: Choose a wall that naturally stands out, or your eye is naturally drawn to, due to the architecture. An accent wall should be unobstructed, standing alone to create impact. Consider a monochromatic accent wall—go just a shade or two deeper or lighter.
Increase flexibility: As trends change, space needs may change, too. Your single-colored walls will adapt well or enable a quick paint job.
Go conservative: While it may sound like an oxymoron, risk averse designers and architects do exist!
Stay clean: No matter what you think about walls, everyone agrees that a single color, and especially when that color is light or even white, give a clean/ fresh impression. The assumption is: White/minimal = clean Colorful/carefully cluttered = dirty
Space perception: Maintaining uniformity of color across your walls (and especially with lighter colors) brings greater depth and space perception to a room or area.
How do you choose a color? Remember the cardinal rules of wall colors: Warm walls (think: orange, yellow and red) can make a space appear smaller. Cool walls (think: green, blue and purple) can make a room appear larger.
TUNE OUT THE NOISE Designed to limit waste and scaled for spaces large and small, the New Horizons Collection from Kirei features five EchoLine acoustic products defined by clean lines and simple, minimalist textures. The new collection— EchoEdge, EchoLine 45, EchoLine Subway, the Embossed Panel Series, and EchoTile Ascent—facilitates healthier interior environments that are visually compelling and easy for designers and architects to specify. The EchoLine offers designers 31 colors and endless customization options and is 100% PET.
Kirei www.kireiusa.com
CIRCLE 385
TIMELESS DESIGN The Designer Laminates Collection Antibacterial from ASI | Architectural Systems incorporates cutting edge technology with the newest finishes and textures. The collection consists of 13 wood grains, solid colors and textured patterns that are treated with a proprietary additive that inhibits the growth and spread of bacterial colonies and fungus. Homogenous, non-porous, easy to maintain, scratch and impact resistant, these HPL laminates are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, contributing to sustainability.
ASI | Architectural Systems www.archsystems.com
CIRCLE 386
MOSEY ON OVER Oakland-based metal experts Moz Designs has introduced new earthtoned colorways as an extension of the Blendz Patina Collection. The new colors bring the look of naturally timeworn textures to commercial spaces using lightweight metal materials. Available in rusted copper hues, deep forest greens, and moody grays, the colors appear antique while maintaining a smooth, easy-to-clean finish. Crafted with 100% recyclable aluminum.
Moz Designs www.mozdesigns.com
CIRCLE 384
NEW STANDARDS A New O ce Standard
With companies allowing employees to head back to the offi ces, commercial property owners, tenants and employees need to know how safe their work environments are. In 2020 during the height of the pandemic, a new open-source, building standard was launched to help building operators with the tools and strategy to monitor, communicate and adjust the health of the indoor physical space to help respond to viral and bacteriological events. IMMUNE Building Standard was implemented via the Healthy by Design Building Institute (HdBI) in Brussels and is described as a blueprint for the healthy buildings of the future. e world’s fi rst IMMUNE-Resilient rated offi ce, the highest rating, has been unveiled in Bucharest, Romania—Building H3 in the West Gate Business District, fully occupied by Ericsson. e IMMUNE Building Standard was developed by Liviu Tudor, president of the European Property Federation in Brussels. He is also the Chairman of Genesis Property, a European property company, owning and managing offi ce buildings with over 1.6 million sq. ft. of gross leased area, hosting 20+ international company tenants like HP, Siemens, Ericsson, Infi neon, Société General and Accenture to name a few.
Key Features of an IMMUNE Standard Building
IMMUNE Stewards would be deployed within each building to implement and monitor activities such as the IMMUNE Quarantine/Room, the Emergency IMMUNE Warehouse and the IMMUNE Digital Twin.
IMMUNE Digital Twin: Digital screens placed in receptions to display immunity-boosting indicators such as daily improvement of indoor air quality in comparison to outside air, water parameters vs. the water source received from the city network, and diff erent measures imposed by the IMMUNE Steward, relevant information related to the good functioning of IMMUNE equipment throughout the building.
© Genesis Property
IMMUNE Quarantine/Room A specially designed, fully equipped and ready-to-use area in case of an immediate need to isolate any exposed people.
Quarantine/Isolation Room Virus Killer
Emergency IMMUNE Warehouse: Contriving a rapid and eff ective relief logistic system for pandemicresponse, containing specifi c protective materials including PPE. e IMMUNE Steward will be responsible for maintaining the stock materials and distributing at building level everything necessary to ensure safety to all occupants.
IAQ/WATER/SURFACE CLEANING PRODUCTS
From the top clockwise: a bathroom air disinfection unit, an air quality sensor, a reverse osmosis water system and an air treatment and surface disinfection unit are pictured. Other technologies such as handsfree door opening, self cleaning surfaces, purifi ed water stations, self cleaning elevators buttons and air purifi cation and UV lighting disinfection in elevators can be employed.
CHANGING THE FACE OF OUTDATED STEREOTYPES
Design has been called the unsung hero of cannabis’ path toward accelerated growth. Since states started legalizing adult use, branding, packaging and stores’ interior design have been systematically changing late 1960s stereotypes.
BY VILMA BARR, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
“It is the Trojan Horse of this industry,” said cannabis retail store design pioneer Megan Stone, whose High Road Design Studio was the fi rst design consultancy to bring elevated retail architecture to dispensaries in 2013. Dispensaries in affl uent areas, particularly, have used architecture and interior design as part of their bid to snare coveted licenses. Design-forward shops are, as Stone rightly observed, safe access points for the new consumers who are key to the industry delivering on its potential.
Deemed essential businesses at the beginning of the pandemic, the stores met the surge in demand by pivoting to pick-up and delivery, bolstering online ordering capabilities and shoring up resilience throughout the industry supply chain. One recommended basis for cannabis store design set forth by Cannabis Dispensary Design is an upgraded appreciation for outstanding commercial design as applied to cannabis retail. “When walking into a dispensary, customers want the same open aisles and clean, uncluttered surroundings as when they enter a sleek electronics store,” states this service on its website which it makes available as an e-book, “How to Open a Cannabis Dispensary.”
From a black-and-white dispensary in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., to sleek Maitri Medicinals in Pittsburgh, these are examples of stylish boutiques.
Synchronicity Holistic, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. p. 33
Museum Exhibition Style
Project: Maitri Medicinals, Pittsburgh Design Team: High Road Design
In the emerging revitalization of Pittsburgh’s downtown East Liberty neighborhood, a former medical offi ce building was adapted to house Maitri Medicinals.
A two-story structure, the façade employs a large stylized illuminated graphic sign to establish the image. For the interior, it was decided to take advantage of the second fl oor’s open plan for the primary dispensary.
A receptionist greets customers in a setting of textured black columns with an adjacent lobby lounge. In the distinctive main sales area, products are displayed in museum exhibitstyle. Faceted pedestals with glass vitrine tops are arranged on free-standing display islands, and wall displays built around windows take advantage of daylighting.
Orders are fi lled through pass-through cabinetry. High Road Design was responsible for the interior and the identity program.
© High Road Design
ESTABLISHING A BRAND e exterior entrance features a large stylized illuminated logo to establish the initial image.
WAITING ROOMS
Contributing to a cannabis store’s appeal is the waiting room. Here, customers can be provided with sources of product information in a comfortable setting.
© High Road Design RESIDENTIAL-LIKE LOBBY A consultation room is furnished with upholstered seating and a fi replace to create a personal, residential-like setting. High-end tile and surfaces add an air of sophistication and elegance.
Project: Synchronicity Holistic, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. Design Team: High Road Design
KIOSKS/TV DISPLAYS/E-COMMERCE
Sheer Sophistication
Synchronicity Holistic, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., is a womanowned store and committed to serving the female market. is 372-sq.-m. store was designed to serve the needs of female and disabled customers. Formerly a corner location offi ce, the owner and designers from High Road Design agreed that their image could be sophisticated and welcoming, combined with an educational environment.
Fixtures, displays and surfaces are easily accessible by older customers and those in wheelchairs. A black and white palette was used as the theme for materials and furnishings throughout, from the exterior façade to the interior selling and support spaces.
For the four-sided concentrates bar, one side can be lowered to accommodate a customer in a wheelchair. e other three sides are elevated at the height for standing customers for product examination.
Two glass-enclosed consultation rooms are furnished with upholstered seating around a glass-topped table and an electric fi replace to create a personal, residential-like setting.
Tools such as kiosks, TVs or interactive educational technology can help new users decide what they want to explore before they talk to a budtender. Technology has changed the way people shop, including buyers of cannabis products.
A Playful Coloration
Retro-inspired Superette in Ottawa, Canada, is a playful, artful curation of products. Designed by Superette’s in-house team, red and white tile against a white background creates a memorable impression on the visitor. e 177-sq.-m. store in the trendy Glebe area is an immersive experience: part funhouse, part candy shop, part cannabis retailer.
On display are products such as organic gender-neutral clothing, accessories, scented candles and other products designed by Superette. Local artists create a selection of home products to link cannabis with fashion. e store also off ers a lunch counter and a candy store section. An extended menu board lists cannabis products carried in the store.
“We’ve been quite bold in our creative expression, to be able to push the envelope continuously in every store. e Grebe neighborhood is a dynamic intersection of retail, lifestyle and events, so the vibe had to match,” said Mimi Lam, CEO of Superette and cofounder with Drummond Munro. ree stores opened in the past two years, all diff erent.
© Alex Lysakowskiv
Project: Superette, Ottawa, Canada Design Team: Superette
OPEN FLOOR PLANS AND BROWSING
Embracing open plans and a customerguided design helps stores build trust with consumers across a variety of experience levels.
First generation dispensaries required customers to stand at a counter and direct a budtender to remove products from jars. For less experienced users, this was challenging and intimidating.
e fi rst signifi cant design leap for dispensaries was removing a walk-up counter in favor of open fl oor plans with glass cabinets or shelving units to display products.
BRAND PROMOTION
Cannabis information service Flowhub recommends integrating a store’s brand into its design, including rugs, merchandise, packaging and employees’ apparel.
Project: e Reef, Seattle Design Team: Olson Kundig Architects
—Megan Stone, High Road Design Studio
Aquatic Themes
Olson Kundig Architects helped transform an empty storefront at the prominent intersection of Olive Way and Denny Way in Seattle into e Reef, a sleek 232-sq.-m. store in the Capital Hill area, a longtime counterculture hub.
e designers interpreted the owner’s preference for the aquatic surroundings of the Pacifi c Northwest with suspended transparent bubbles that stand out in relief against darkhued background and tones for the fi xtures. Murals on the exterior façade depict underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau and an underwater scene interpreted by a local artist. e layout emphasizes budtender-to-consumer interaction, allowing movement that encourages engagement by staff with customers.
BROWSING
Browsing increases the likelihood of additional purchases and helps dispensaries maximize revenue per square foot.
Modular storage cabinets showcasing buds and housing point-of-sale stations have become fi xtures in upmarket shops.
© Olson Kundig Architects
Elements of Success
As the industry continues to expand and innovate, observers identify elements of success on promoting the store’s brand, off ering a memorable customer experience, as well as controlled inventory management. e look of a dispensary and the store fl ow plays a big part in customer satisfaction. e market for cannabis products is becoming more diverse, and new stores have developed a singular physical genre to present the buying public with a purchasing process unlike other forms of merchandising they typically encounter.
e cannabis industry saw explosive growth in 2020 as a reaction to the pandemic that is expected to continue into the next decade and beyond as an increasing number of states legalize recreational marijuana use.
Of all 50 states, 48 allow for some form of medical marijuana; 16 states have legalized it recreationally, including the entire West Coast. Recreational cannabis is legal throughout Canada.
Americans purchased $18.3 billion in cannabis products in 2020, $7.6 billion more than the $10.7 billion in sales the previous year, according to the research fi rm Leafl y. New consumers and patients play a role in the cannabis boom. e main driver was an increase in the average purchase size of established consumers, who increased their average monthly spends by 33%.
In the U.S., 12% of the total population (330 million) are active marijuana users. A report from New Frontier Data projects that the legal marijuana industry in the U.S. alone will swell to $41.5 billion by 2025.
SIDEBAR
Scope of the Cannabis Market
$41.5 billion $18.3 billion $10.7 billion U.S. Cannabis Growth 2019 2020 2025
Connectivity to the natural environment.
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Buildings on a Mission
Whether curing rare diseases, improving a cancer patient’s treatment experience, or pushing the boundary of conscientious design, the buildings featured on the next few pages are each on a mission to make a diff erence.
by Barbara Horwitz-Bennett & Vilma Barr
Buildings are places where problem-solving and innovation happen daily. It is interesting to think about all the problem-solving that went into designing those buildings in the fi rst place, making sure they were equipped to accomplish the work their owners were destined to do.
Architects and their design teams rely on products, materials and systems to achieve the unique design objectives and desired aesthetic for every project. Let’s take a look at the design challenges and solutions that emerged in the development of each of these inspiring buildings.
HIGH-RISE LABS e Global Research and Gene erapy Center of Excellence in Philadelphia, Pa. is the new research facility for Amicus erapeutics that houses cutting-edge laboratories and offi ce space designed to be collaborative, inspirational and secure.
Connie Zhou Photography UP TO CODE e design team at CRB-PA found innovative solutions to incorporate mechanical and HVAC systems, as well as security and hazard control, for biosafety level 2 (BSL2) labs.
Curing Diseases in an Inspiring Space
Amicus erapeutics is dedicated to “the fi ght to remain at the forefront of therapies for rare and orphan diseases.” It is a mission that is incredibly personal to Chairman and , John F. Crowley. Two of his children were born with Pompe disease, a rare neuromuscular genetic disease that Amicus is working to cure in its new 46,000-sq.ft. Global Research and Gene erapy Center of Excellence in University City Square, Philadelphia, Pa.
is state-of-the-art research facility is located in the top two fl oors of a 14-story tower, which was itself a design challenge, because the building was not inherently equipped to provide the security and hazard control required in biosafety level 2 (BSL2) labs. e design team at - found innovative solutions to incorporate the mechanical and systems necessary and even installed a nitrogen gas generation system into the building’s penthouse.
It was important to Amicus that this new space inspire employees and foster collaboration, so the architects looked for ways to overcome the inherent disconnect that existed in the space being divided between two fl oors. ey created an open central core with a double-height atrium that featured a dramatic staircase and a custom Soft Sound fl oating wall, manufactured by Arktura, that mimics the genetic sequence of Pompe’s disease. e lighting design, created by e Lighting Practice, was explained by the fi rm as, “Sinuous lines of light that encircle the atrium, providing a visual reference and illuminating collaboration and touchdown areas. Organic forms are emphasized with continuous curvilinear slots, decorative fi xtures and cove lighting. Recessed troff ers in the lab and open offi ce provide high-performance illumination and a clean aesthetic.”
e project has earned several awards: an IIDA PA/NJ/DE Design Awards, Winner, Best of Corporate 20,000 SF+, an ENR MidAtlantic Best Project Award: Award of Merit, 2020, and an IES International Illumination Award: Award of Merit, 2020.
LOOKING UP e atrium’s ceiling mimics the gene sequence of Pompe’s disease, an illness Amicus is working to cure, which double as lighting and acoustic control with backlit acoustic panels.
Arktura Soft Sound fl oating wall (Custom) www.arktura.com
CIRCLE 383
© Hufton + Crow
An Artfully Casual Cancer Facility
Maggie’s Southampton, the latest in cancer care centers fi rst opened 25 years ago, is a 4,500-sq.-ft. singlestory building that feels larger than it is, owing to a pinwheel fl oor plan that visually draws the surrounding gardens inward through large fl oor-to-ceiling windows. e exterior’s refl ective surfaces clad in pounded metal appear to dissolve the building into the surroundings.
Serving 3.2 million residents in England’s Southeast region, located 70 miles from London, the oncology specialty facility is adjacent to Southampton General Hospital. e Maggie’s Centre system was founded by Maggie Keswick Jencks, a writer, gardener and designer who used her own experience of being diagnosed with cancer at age 47 to create a new type of cancer care facility in conjunction with her architect husband, Charles Jencks. e fi rst Maggie’s opened in Edinburgh in 1996, giving rise to a network of centers across the UK and abroad.
A New Kind of Cancer Care
Maggie and Charles wanted to bring people together in a calm and friendly space that would help them to fi nd comfort.
Designers of healthcare today follow the observation that transforming the perception of institutional facilities results into a far better patient experience. By applying residential and hospitality techniques— such as accent lighting, plants, artwork and ceiling treatments— spaces can feel more fl uid and relaxing. Organic shapes, serene color palettes and a variety of textures provide visual interest, while natural light and views to the outdoors promote wellness and help orient patients and visitors within the building.
Architect Amanda Levete and her team at AL_A coordinated with landscape designer Sarah Price to integrate the ecology of the nearby New Forest environment into an interior theme for the single-story structure described as “artfully casual.” Four exterior blade walls are made from ceramics with corners clad in mirror-polished stainless steel with a mottled surface. Formed of stacked-up ceramic blocks that are hollow inside, they are profi led to appear as repeating vertical fi ns.
e interior is mostly one big room with an oculus that brings a disc of sunlight into the middle of the building’s central space. Surrounding are small and more intimate places and rooms. e palette is warm and muted with a polished concrete fl oor that provides additional dimension. Furnishings are modern and classic contemporary, with combinations of soft and hard materials, exhibiting both natural and coordinating fi nishes.
—Max Arrocet, Architect AL_A
GLASS WALLS ADD DAYLIGHT + LANDSCAPE VIEWS A pinwheel fl oor plan visually draws the surrounding gardens inward through large fl oor-to-ceiling windows.
Institutional facilities produce far better patient experiences by applying residential and hospitality techniques.
CERAMIC WALLS “With the ceramic walls, we wanted to establish diff erent readings depending on the light coming in from outside and your place in the center; the angled blocks combine two tonalities of base clay paired with two pastel colors. As you approach and move through the center, the colors shift in tone, a reminder of the ever-changing seasonal conditions. As the day progresses, a subtle play between light and shadow is revealed,” said architect Max Arrocet of AL_A.
Ceràmica Cumella www.cumella.cat
CIRCLE 382 GARDEN VIEWS Architect Amanda Levete of AL_A describes the genesis of the design as an attempt to bring a bit of magic to the place. “We have imagined that a piece of garden has been transported from the New Forest into the midst of the hospital’s concrete landscape.” Large sliding windows bring the outside in, while the polished concrete fl oor refl ects the colors of the plantings.
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Bat Armchair and Ottoman; Stay small armchair by Gubi www.gubi.com Floor-to-ceiling wood grid constructions are divided into multiple shelves, supplied with reading materials and items of interest for patients. ere are views and light in all directions. Expanses of full-height glass provide seamless integrated views to the trees, bushes and fl owering plants directly on the opposite side. Landscape designer Sarah Price has observed that the New Forest draws its healing power from experiencing the rich diversity of the New Forest’s fl ora: wood anemones, orchids, wild garlic, lesser celandines, bluebells and primroses, mosses and ferns, growing in the woodland pathways.
PRODUCTS LIKE THIS
LIVING WALLS Studies have shown that natural elements added to indoor spaces help lower tension and anxiety, reduce fatigue and increase creativity and effi ciency. e GrowUp Freedom Series, introduced through a partnership of OFS and GrowUp Greenwalls, will help streamline the integration of offi ce spaces with biophilic design, sustainability and low-maintenance vertical gardens, which provides health, wellness and climate benefi ts.
OFS GrowUp Freedom Series www.growup.green
