commARCH - May June 2020

renegade.

MAY I JUNE I 2020

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RENEGADE. It’s commARCH’s fifth “so reborn. Moving Forward” issue and our obsession with being the media brand for architects and owners/developers is paying off. Subscribers have almost doubled in this period of time. As that grows, so will our multimedia platforms. Content delivered in the format you (the audience) most desire.

Early on, we learned you didn’t have an allegiance to any media brand. You desired one that related to your sensibilities. So, we created the “renegade” brand commARCH to represent your values and curiosity.

And our own.

As Jay-Z and Eminem rap: “Renegade! Never been afraid to say What’s on my mind at, any given time of day ‘Cause I’m a renegade! Never been afraid to talk About anything (anything?) anything (anything!) renegade!

Never been afraid to say What’s on my mind at, any given time of day ‘Cause I’m a renegade! Never been afraid to holler About anything (anything?) anything (anything!)”

That’s right, as many subscribers have pointed out, commARCH”s cover lines are the names of our favorite hip hop songs and influences. Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, Jay Z, Eminem, etc. This one is no different.

So, what’s the connection with this issue’s cover image? When Austrian physician and botanist Friedrich Welwitch first saw the most “renegade” plant on earth, he “could do nothing but kneel down and gaze at it, half in fear lest a touch should prove it a figment of the imagination.” It has since been called the “Welwitcha mirabilis,” ”onion of the desert,” and “tree tumbo.”

It is a paradox. While labeled a tropical plant, it has survived generations in the most extreme conditions. It feels and consumes dew and fog moisture through as many as 22,000 pores, while other desert plants have a few. It is open, curious, and has survived since the Jurassic period. It does not fully resemble any other plant on earth, yet antelopes, rhinos, humans and others look to it to survive in the harshest conditions.

As you read through this issue, you will discover renegade products, projects and minds. Who would possibly start a $212 million new sports complex during a pandemic? Walk into a room filled with people who don’t look like you, and then dominate it? Deliver innovative building materials during the worst economic draught?

Only if you have “never been afraid to say; what’s on my mind at, any given time of day,” will true excellence be achieved during the most unimaginable times. It is the honest coming together of architects and owners/developers that delivers an outcome that will last like the Welwitcha mirabilis. Open, curious, porous, and forever relevant. “Renegade.”

May/June. 2020 Issue . Volume 18 No. 3 5603 B West Friendly Avenue, #238 Greensboro, NC 27410 646-397-8241 commARCH.com, a division of IdeaSoil, LLC Dean Horowitz, Chief Product Officer/ President 646-397-8241 dean@ideasoil.com CONTENT - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Edit@ideasoil.com Chief Creative, John Phillip Davis Managing Editor, Chris Thiede Executive Producer - Video & Podcasts, Barry Katz VP of Social Media, SEO/SEM, and Influencer Marketing Strategies, Alexandra Kavalos Webmaster, Chad Seay Community Creative, Brian Hertel Sr. Contributing Editors Education & Business Processes, William Asdal Financial Analysis & Reporting, Annie Asdal Facility Asset Data Management, Michael Bordenaro Leadership Strategies, Michael Catalonello Marketing & Business Growth Strategies, Shawn Draper AI, Eric Hochstein Technology, Services & Platforms, Kurt Hoechstetter Market Research & Forecasting, Chris O’Keefe International, Griffin Suber FinTech, Joan Susie Building Technology Editor, Jay Thomas Water, George Vorsheim CONTENT/EDITORIAL Send all press releases and editorial submissions to: Edit@ideasoil.com CONSTRUCTION DATA Dodge Data & Analytics info@IdeaSoil.com OPERATIONS - Multiplatform Operations Manager, Maria LeMaire Operations Associate, Alexander Bryce Horowitz Accounting@ideasoil.com, Digital@ideasoil.com, Production@ideasoil.com RESEARCH Research@ideasoil.com Research Associate, Heidi Hannula INTEGRATED MEDIA SPECIALISTS Sales@ideasoil.com SALES DIRECTORS Northeast Beth Emerich - bemerich@ideasoil.com Midwest Vince Basso - vinceb@ideasoil.com West Robert Reed - robertr@ideasoil.com SUBSCRIPTIONS For subscription inquiries or change of address, please contact us at commARCH@omeda.com, or call 847-559-7520.

WEBSITE commARCH.com Commercial Architecture (ISSN #24736902) Copyright © 2020 by IdeaSoil, LLC is published 6 times per year, bimonthly, by IdeaSoil, LLC, 2510 Duck Club Road Greensboro, NC 27410-2572. For subscriptions/change of address: commARCH@omeda.com, or call 847-559-7520. Periodicals postage paid at Greensboro, NC and at additional mailing offices.

Please forward all returns to: Commercial Architecture​ IdeaSoil, LLC PO Box 376 Lincolnshire, IL 60069

commARCH // 6

BPA Worldwide membership applied for (March/2020)

Podcast

TOTAL SOLUTION Fortress Building Products focuses on innovation and partnering with architects

As building product manufacturers have evolved so must their organizational structures. Fortress went from five separate business units that operated as their own entity, into “Fortress Building Products” as one business and one platform.

Toby Bostwick, as Vice President of Product & Brand, oversees three departments: marketing, product development and innovation/R&D. This enables Fortress Building Products to continually evolve as a “marketing company that sells products.”

Customer knowledge, the best ways to connect with their audience, a focus on the outdoor space and continual innovation make sales that much more powerful.

Decking, Fencing, Railing, Framing, Fasteners, and Lighting & Accessories combined teams allow for “the total solution” for their clients.

An entire department is focused on the needs of the Commercial Architecture audience.

They provide direct specifications and education services, such as CEU coursework and webinars. Building segments served include commercial, industrial, high-security and residential.

Making the transition to a complete supplier and partner “The key focus is providing a total solution...in terms of products, but also in terms of services. So the specification team (is) able to go to an architect group and say not only can we help you with all the specifications, but now we have a plethora of products that we can also offer you as a total solution.

Now we as Fortress can just bring that total solution as a package in the beginning. Our number one focus is where do we see an opportunity to deliver a solution. We want to be innovative in everything we do.”

Dedicated to partnering with architects and specifiers “We have an internal team that is a little bit different than any other company that I’ve been around before. The team is on call every day looking at opportunities, talking with architectural firms and delivering CEU courses and online webinars.”

Steel framing coming to the US “If you look around the globe, steel framing is the way it’s done. With the Evolution product line, we brought a complete package. Starting from the ledger all the way to your stairs.”

How architects can get in touch with Fortress “On the fortressbp.com website, there’s a direct link at the bottom that says “Contact Us.” Just send a message to that, and indicate that you’re an architect or a specifier and then our specifications team would follow right back up with direct phone call.”

Finding solutions through innovation “When we see a problem or we go out and we find a problem, we have an innovation group that does nothing but focus on how to develop new concepts, new innovations to bring to market. The thing that I like most about Fortress is our discipline around innovation. So making sure we’re bringing the right things to market on time, delivering that innovation.”

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T A B L E

O F

C O N T E N T S

F E A T U R E S A CULTURE OF COOPERATION New School Demonstrates Collaborative Design . Page 23 LEAD BY EXAMPLE Conversations with Some of Architecture’s Leading Women . Page 38 COVER STORY Women in Architecture . Page 42 FEATURE SECTION Introducing Trophy Park . Page 48 LIBRARY OF THE FUTURE Kansas City Library is ‘Open for All’ . Page 61 OLYMPIC INSPIRATIONS BIM 360 Innovations Facilitate Fundraising . Page 70 SCHOOL WITH A VIEW Renovation of America’s Oldest School . Page 78

B U I L D I N G S Historic Faรงade . Page 60 Lazaridis Institute . Page 66 High Tech Lab . Page 67 Colorful STEM . Page 68 New Heights of Design & Efficiency . Page 69 A Vital Facility . Page 74 Amenities Floors . Page 76

D E P A R T M E N T S CONTRIBUTING EDITOR After Life . Page 10 TECHNICAL ARTICLE Critical Considerations for Windscreens . Page 14 TECHNICAL ARTICLE Open Plan Fire Protection . Page 20 PRODUCTS Products designed to make your buildings beautiful and functional . Page 25

AFTERLIFE AFTER LIFE FOR WHITE ELEPHANTS THROUGH ADAPTIVE REUSE By: Griffin Suber, Contributing Editor

Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan will be postponed until next summer. Maybe. That is, if Japan can untangle a host of logistical problems.

megastructures, built with promises of sustained value once their intended events are over, inevitably succumb to the realities of steep maintenance costs and inadequate surrounding markets.

For example, the Athlete’s Village, where twenty-three new residential buildings have been constructed, already has tenants planning to move in after the games were supposed to conclude.

It’s a worldwide pattern, but Brazil has been notoriously burdened with half a dozen white elephants.

Then, there are the stadiums themselves. Many aren’t available next summer. The new National Stadium, completed in November 2019, was built to host the opening and closing ceremonies. If the postponed Olympics, the only Olympics in history to be postponed and not cancelled, doesn’t actually happen, then the structure will serve as a very nice 68,000 seat $1.4 billion arena football stadium.

Other venues built specifically for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics include the Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo Aquatics Center, Yumenshima Park, Ariake Arena, Kasai Rinkai Park and Masashino Forest Sports Park. This list does not include existing structures undergoing renovation for the games. All told, there has been over $25 billion worth of structural preparation for this summer’s Olympics, and companies have paid $3.1 billion to make these games the most heavily sponsored in history.

Even when they run smoothly, international events such as the Olympics and the World Cup leave white elephants in their wake. These crumbling

The Estádio Nacional in the Brazilian capital of Brasília cost $900 million.

When it was built, it was the second most expensive soccer stadium in the world after Wembley Stadium in London. The attendance for all teams in the local Brasília league combined wouldn’t fill the stadium once. The top club in Brasília, a fourth division team, now only plays in the stadium on special occasions.

For almost a billion dollars, the Estádio Nacional is used as a parking lot for buses and an office space for government officials.

Rio de Janerio’s Maracanã Stadium, which hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2016 Summer Olympics, fell into disrepair after the games left town. The field turned dry and brown, electronic equipment was stolen, and the power was shut off due to unpaid bills.

So, what are the solutions?

Photo credit: Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games commARCH // 10

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South Korea’s PyeongChang Stadium, built for the 2018 Winter Olympics for a cool $109 million, was demolished after being used only four times. The University of Michigan estimated the cost of use per hour to be $10 million.

Other facilities, in host cities such as Sochi, were designed to be deconstructed and their materials recycled.

While redrafting Olympic structures as stadiums for local teams would seem an obvious solution for white elephants in larger markets, what about those in cities and towns whose local teams don’t draw thousands of fans? Around the world, unused arenas offer tempting opportunities for adaptive reuse.

There’s a saying in architecture: the greenest building is one that is already built. Often, these elephants have great bones and were designed by top tier architects. Repurposing them to fill alternative community needs can at least help to justify exorbitant taxpayer investments.

Beijing’s National Aquatics Center, known as the “Water Cube,” held swimming, diving, and water polo events during the 2008 Summer Olympics and is where Michael Phelps won his eight gold medals.

Wrapped in a shimmering bubble design, the structure won the 2011 National Science & Technology Progress Award. After the games management was turned over to the Beijing States Assets Co. who turned the structure into Asia’s largest waterpark with 13 waterslides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and a spa. The upper floor houses an auditorium, a theatre, several restaurants, bars, and a museum of Olympic history.

In Montreal, the velodrome/judo arena for the 1976 summer games was repurposed into the Montreal Biodome. The original structure, designed

by French architect Roger Tallibrert, maintained its modern, space-age exterior while the interior was transformed into a cross between a zoo and botanical garden. The biodome contains four separate ecosystems which house a large collection of diverse flora and fauna, including macaws, lynx and penguins. commARCH // 12

When the 1940 Summer Olympics were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II, Helsinki’s Tennispalatsi, or Tennis Palace, had already been renovated to accommodate the event. Originally designed by architecture student Helge Lundström in 1937, the building was first an auto dealership, then a tennis hall, and then a basketball stadium when the Games returned to Helsinki in 1952. It deteriorated for decades thereafter, slated for demolition, until the Palace’s architectural and historical value was recognized in the early 1990s. Now, the Tennispalatsi is a cultural center, housing the Helsinki City Art Museum, a movie theater and several restaurants.

Then, there are the atypical afterlives. Los Angeles’ Grand Olympic Auditorium from the 1932 Olympics is now a Korean Church. The Olympic Village from Lake Placid’s 1980 Winter Olympics is now a federal correctional facility, housing prisoners instead of athletes. Sarajevo’s Mezarje Stadion was turned into a literal graveyard.

Architects, problem solvers by nature, offer a constant flow of proposals to repurpose white elephants into something more useful. With a minimum amount of will and resources, these structures can be transformed into dynamic residential complexes, grand education facilities or emergency relief centers for natural disasters and pandemics.

For now, the Olympic flame will remain in Tokyo as a beacon of optimism for the postponed games. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach referred to the flame as “the light at the end of a dark tunnel” in which the world currently finds itself. Tokyo’s new National Stadium will most likely always have a tenant, however worthy, but let this situation be an example of the importance of practical planning for international events and their perennial coliseums.

POD

ST

Introducing commARCH Weekly A podcast from the publishers of commARCH In-depth Interviews News and Trends Project Updates Download & Listen at commarch.com/podcast Or on your favorite podcast app

CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR WORKING WITH WINDSCREENS

By: Jon Chase, Vice President of Engineering, Trex Commercial Products

Commercial windscreens deliver unobstructed views while diverting wind to create a more enjoyable outdoor experience. While most windscreen systems are capable of handling 10psf wind loads, the Ascent Glass Windscreen from Trex Commercial Products is designed for eight times that amount with a qualified wind load of 80psf, allowing for installation at much higher altitudes.

There’s nothing like the great outdoors. This mantra rings true no matter the setting – whether camping in a national park or just stepping out of the office for a breath of fresh air.

With the rising popularity of all things al fresco, architects and designers are incorporating open air spaces into virtually every type of building project – from hotels and high-rises to holistic healthcare settings. Playing a vital role in ensuring the comfort and safety of these exterior areas are commercial windscreens.

As one of the most visible elements of any building project, a windscreen serves a vitally important role by adding safety, comfort and style, while optimizing the very thing that draws people outside in the first place – the views. Beyond wind protection and visual appeal, a windscreen also aids in noise reduction, a key benefit for outdoor spaces in urban areas or alongside busy roadways.

Although windscreens may be one of the last products to be installed, their specification should be considered early in the design process, ideally at concept, as the structure must be designed to support the system. There are several critical aspects to consider when specifying a windscreen system: commARCH // 14

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Force and Impact Most importantly, in order to provide a quality, tested and proven safe product, architects must meet the structural and load requirements of the International Building Code (IBC), as well as applicable local codes, when designing, specifying and installing windscreen systems. In most areas windscreens must be able to withstand a concentrated live load of at least 200 pounds and must withstand the force of high winds, especially atop multi-story building terraces.

Most commercial windscreen systems are capable of handling wind loads of 10 pounds per square foot (psf). However, products designed for increased wind load allow for installation at much higher elevations. For instance, the Ascent Glass Windscreen from Trex Commercial Products has a qualified wind load of 80 psf (8 times the industry standard), making it ideal for higher applications.

Materials and Components An understanding of typical windscreen material properties will help when evaluating conditions and designing new systems.

Windscreen systems are designed and constructed using laminated glass infill and aluminum or stainless steel framing, such as aluminum posts and steel stanchions. Aluminum structural components are corrosion-resistant, commARCH // 16

lightweight with a favorable strength to weight ratio and are available in a variety of protective finishes from powder-coat to anodize.

Glass selection will be determined primarily by the environment and wind load. The size, thickness and type of glass must comply with building codes, standards and safety requirements.

The IBC requires a minimum thickness of quarter-inch for monolithic tempered glass, laminated tempered glass or laminated heat-strengthened glass.

Because the wind load increases at higher altitudes, thicker, heavier glass will be required to withstand the applied wind load. The IBC also requires that glass installed in exterior railing infill panels or balusters in wind-borne debris regions must be laminated to comply with safety glazing impact requirements. Special coatings, interlayers or films can also be added to reduce glare, provide UV protection or increase privacy.

For structural integrity, designers must select the type, grade and class of fasteners required for connections to anchor handrails and railings to other types of construction and that can withstand the project’s specific design loads. Metals that are corrosive or incompatible with materials joined must not be used.

Windscreens are completely customizable to meet the performance needs and safety requirements for any project’s design. The use of tall, thick glass provides a sound barrier, and quality finishes and special coatings can enhance the durability of the windscreen surface.

Weatherproofing Weather and waterproofing are important considerations that too often are overlooked during the specification process. Serious issues can develop when different metals intersect with one another and with the outdoor elements. Thus, it is important to separate incompatible materials to prevent galvanic corrosion.

Laminated glass and an aluminum or steel framing system provides a sturdy, transparent shield for any outdoor amenity in mixed-used, healthcare and hospitality design plans. Fasteners connected to metal railing posts support the glass infill.

Movement that occurs with changes in temperature must be considered during the design process, as well. Windscreens should be designed to allow for movements resulting from 120-degree F (49 C) changes in ambient and 180-degree F (82 C) surface temperatures. Taking thermal stress into consideration will maintain the structural continuity along the entire windscreen system.

In areas of high annual rainfall, waterproofing is necessary to safeguard the structural integrity of the building. For hurricane regions or areas prone to high winds, modifications may be required to meet local codes.

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The offering of a snap-fit aluminum post system makes for quick, safe and easy installation. With one side of the post in place, the glass is positioned in front of the system and held in by VHB tape. The tape holds the first pane of glass in while the next piece of glass is installed. The post cover is then snapped in from the non-drop side, safely securing the glass panel in place.

Installation When it comes to installation, traditional glass windscreens often require installers to lift large panes of glass and slide them in from the top of the post system. However, as windscreen systems continue to advance, so do installation methods.

Trex Commercial Products’ snap-fit aluminum posts make for quick, safe and easy assembly. With one side of the post in place, the glass is positioned in front of the system and held in by double-sided foam tape. The tape holds the first pane of glass in while the next piece of glass is installed. The cover is then snapped in from the front, safely securing the half-inch glass panel in place. This simple design reduces the time it takes for a contractor to install the system, which can lower labor costs and help keep a project within or even under budget.

Countersunk screw and setting block attachment detail: Flat head screw fastens aluminum setting block to aluminum post.

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An aluminum post system with snap-fit pressure plate secures glass, and a snap-fit cover plate conceals all fasteners.

Left: Windscreens are perfectly suited for rooftop terraces and outdoor dining areas, as shown in this photo from F.N.B Tower in Raleigh, N.C. with Trex Commercial Products’ Ascent™ Glass Windscreen.

Below: A glass windscreen, such as Trex Commercial Products’ Ascent Glass Windscreen shown here at Vertis Green Hills in Nashville, Tenn., is ideal for wind protection and privacy around outdoor pool areas.

Code Compliance Several codes and requirements must be considered for windscreen applications. At the minimum, systems must be IBC- and IRC-compliant and tested in accordance with AC439 – Evaluation for Glass Railings and Balustrade Systems. This testing evaluates static strength, impact resistance and wind pressure.

If a design includes handrails, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III requirements for designing handrails for commercial facilities will come into play. Locally, it is important to confirm requirements related to glass railing systems with the building department. Field tests may also be required based on local regulations.

As a supplier, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of working closely with the windscreen manufacturer at the onset of the design process.

In our experience, it’s always beneficial when architects and glaziers enlist the help and expertise of the manufacturer to best understand their options and capabilities, especially when determining weight capacity, structural requirements and code compliance. We’ve seen too many cases where a building’s exterior had to be completely redone due to lack of familiarity with national or local codes.

Over the years, windscreens have evolved from purely functional features to vital design elements that elevate a building’s overall appeal. Whether you’re looking to create a welcoming rooftop retreat, a relaxing outdoor pool area or a therapeutic healing garden, a well-designed windscreen system can provide wind protection, unobstructed views and a sophisticated aesthetic to any building.

Jon Chase is Vice President of Engineering for Trex Commercial Products, a national leader in architectural railings for commercial applications.

The Minneapolis-based company engineers and markets pre-engineered and custom railing systems and has supplied railing solutions for some of the largest projects in North America from major sports arenas to government projects.

For more information about commercial windscreen systems, visit www.

TrexCommercial.com.

A knowledgeable partner will be able to provide valuable insight regarding regulations and how they might impact the project scope, logistics and cost. At Trex Commercial Products, we conduct a thorough review of applicable codes and regulations. Then we provide a fully engineered system meeting project specifications and requirements. commARCH // 19

OPEN PLAN

FIRE PROTECTION

By Nigel Ward, Managing Director of Sales at BLE

The rise of open plan layouts means the challenge of incorporating fire protection into building design has become increasingly complex.

absence of walls. Where fire doors cannot be implemented, fire curtains may be installed.

Offering users flexibility and freedom to alter a space as necessary, open plan layouts have increased in popularity. There are multiple benefits to the creation of large open spaces, including significant energy savings due to more natural light and a more social, collaborative environment for offices, due to the lack of dividing walls.

Fire-resistant barriers, such as curtains, suppress the growth and development of flames and smoke within a building, protect escape routes and help minimize the risk to human life. Open spaces and critical escape routes such as elevator openings and lobbies, can utilize fire curtains to control the spread of fire, which could spread more rapidly.

Unfortunately, should a fire break out in an open plan environment, the spread of smoke and flames is much more rapid than in a smaller or compartmented area.

The most severe risk to occupants in a fire is excessive inhalation of gas, smoke or toxic fumes which can be reduced by containing the spread of fire and protecting evacuation routes with implementation of fire-resistant barriers into a building’s design.

A fire curtain is a highly robust piece of fire-resistant material which is stored discretely in a steel headbox within the ceiling. In the event of a fire, the curtain is released by a trigger from a fire alarm or local detector, causing it to fall vertically via gravity. Once deployed, it obscures the space, acting as a crucial physical barrier between the fire and the escape routes.

To prevent the spread of fire, a building must be divided into compartments, which are marked by the implementation of fire-resistant barriers, such as fire doors and curtains. Open plan spaces pose specific challenges because it is impossible to utilise fire doors, due to the

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Unlike fire doors, curtains can be installed in different locations where there is a lack of walls and can be used to replace a non-load bearing wall and fire rated glazing.

In open plan layouts, the installation of a fire curtain enables a building to still meet the relevant regulations.

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Certification & Integrity A fire barrier is designed to withstand the heat and effects of a fire for a specific length of time. The required duration of resistance is specified to enable an effective evacuation with enough time to make the necessary checks of the building, in order to minimize the risk to human life.

NFPA 80 is an important standard, providing comprehensive guidance on specification and installation. Aimed at specifiers, manufacturers, installers and facilities managers, the standard covers key aspects, such as a proficient installation and ongoing maintenance of the fire barrier, which must be achieved to illustrate competence and quality.

For the fire curtain industry, UL10D is the key testing certification to look for in terms of compliance and product integrity. The level of integrity used to describe a product illustrates its fire resistance level.

With fire resistance and integrity of components used in building construction facing increased scrutiny, there is a higher degree of focus on the integrity of every product when exposed to fire. This certification provides assurance to end users and building occupiers that the product has been subject to, and passed, thorough third-party testing against a set of rigorous criteria.

The benefits of having a vision panel in fire-resistant barriers are clear. However, where they appear in curtains there must be no compromise on compliance, quality and the product’s resistance level. Choosing products that are certified and have undergone thorough testing, provides assurance to specifiers and facilities managers that the fire protection measures in place are of the highest standard to preserve human life.

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A CULTURE OF COOPERATION NEW HIGH SCHOOL DEMONSTRATES COLLABORATIVE DESIGN

By Tysen Gannon

Building a “state of the art” school is more than simply integrating technology into its classrooms. It also involves creating an environment that fosters learning and prepares students for the workplace of tomorrow.

North Creek High School’s designers utilized single-leaf sliding doors to create rooms that foster collaboration and focused learning environments.

Credit: © Chris Eden / edenphotography.us

And, it starts at the blueprints.

Incorporating functional learning spaces for students while addressing the needs of teachers and staff was a crucial focus for North Creek High School (NCHS) just north of Seattle. To address the rapidly growing student population in the Northshore School District, the district sought out designs for their new school that emphasized a shared learning experience across Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculums.

In order to prepare its 21st century students for their careers of the future, the district partnered with architecture firm Dykeman, Inc., to design an atmosphere that instills a culture of cooperation.

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A new generation of shared learning

Controlling the learning environment

Traditional school construction has long relied on designs that are oriented around a central corridor. Due to the lack of available and accessible rooms, the corridor became an ad hoc meeting location and gathering place in schools. While functional, this setup can lead to congestion in hallways and a lack of dedicated quiet spaces for students to study or work together on group projects.

While the sliding doors promote student collaboration, staff can also utilize the cubes for closed-door meetings.

To incorporate features that reflect this natural tendency to gather and learn together, the design team at Dykeman developed the concept of “collaboration cubes.” These cubes, located on each floor of the school, enable students to gather in informal study groups or work on class projects. They also help bring teacher offices into the central areas of NCHS. For additional privacy and decreased sound transfer, architects specified AD Systems’ single-leaf sliding doors for each of the cubes. The doors easily slide open and closed, increase space by eliminating swing paths and offer privacy while maintaining visibility for teachers and staff.

As a result of these benefits, the doors enhance the flexibility of how students and staff use the cubes. As Trish Sherman, NCHS Project Manager at Dykeman summed up: “The sliding doors were a key component in bringing the collaborative concept to life.”

The single-leaf doors’ sliding capability further allows “for an open-door policy, where students feel comfortable approaching,” said Michael Stevens, NCHS Project Architect at Dykeman. “The result is a more open, approachable space.”

Furthermore, sliding doors save valuable square footage, directly correlating with NCHS’ culture of working together. Eliminating a door’s swing path, creates more room for students and teachers to spread out in a comfortable setting.

“Without extra swing, you can do a lot more in a small space. This was one of the key reasons for the barn sliding doors,” Stevens continued.

Designing the perfect space for focus and learning AD Systems’ sliding doors are available in a range of wood species, plastic laminates, aluminum stile and rail doors, glass and other glazing panels.

To match their desired aesthetic, Dykeman utilized sliding doors in a wood stile with glass infill panels for the collaboration cubes. The doors’ transparent look complements the design of the classrooms, all of which feature a full glass wall. The glazing added to the sliding doors also captures the ample natural light that filters through the high school, creating a bright space for student learning.

As well, the school’s designers incorporated murals of notable historic collaborations, such as the Wright brothers, to unite the different rooms.

The cubes give students a space to work independently and dream up their own innovations or work together on a group project, similar to the coworking facilities common in many of today’s office buildings.

“I like the openness of the space,” Amanda Rainwater, a Science Teacher on Special Assignment at the school said. “As a classroom teacher, not only do I have my classroom space, but I also have space outside of the classroom to do work with my students. It helps the teachers that want to do group work or have students working on different projects at the same time.”

commARCH // 24

With acoustic jamb gaskets and drop-down bottom seal features, the doors can tighten the perimeter, reduce noise transmission and control the volume of sound heard from outside the room. The combination of seals and mounting hardware can provide Noise Isolation Class values up to 39, which exceeds the Facility Guidelines Institute’s STC 35 target for speech privacy. This gives students and staff the confidence that parent-teacher conferences or student-counselor meetings can’t be overheard outside.

Closing the sliding doors also creates a learning environment with fewer interruptions and less noise. The soft-close dampening system helps decrease overall noise transfer for a more distraction-free setting.

Researchers at Florida State University have found that noise makes students less flexible and adaptable to dealing with changing task demands. The noise-reducing sliding doors combat this, and can positively impact overall scholastic performance. For Sherman and Stevens, acoustic considerations were an important component of NCHS’ design, and the sliding doors help deliver an ideal learning environment, even during boisterous group discussions.

Increasing safety and accessibility Beyond NCHS, interior sliding doors are becoming more commonplace in other educational settings where accessibility and safety are primary concerns. ADA-compliant privacy locks and latching hardware don’t require pinching, twisting or grasping, increasing usability for all. Sliding doors can also include self-closing systems or be fully automated, opening and closing with the wave of a hand or push of a button to make the facility easier to navigate for students and staff with compromised mobility.

Thanks to new technology, sliding doors can also improve a building’s safety by controlling the spread of fire. Fire-rated wood sliding doors from AD Systems can help control and contain flames and smoke and have undergone Underwriters Laboratories testing, achieving a 45-minute UL 10B fire rating. In the event of a fire, students and staff have more time to safely exit the building, and designers can still integrate clean, modern design.

With the design and implementation of the cubes, NCHS has delivered its vision of collaborative learning to a new generation of students. Visitors of the central hall can observe hundreds of students flowing in and out of the cubes for team projects or quiet study spaces. The private rooms have also become popular with staff for group meetings and other noise-sensitive discussions.

Thanks to sliding doors, the building’s designers have given the students, faculty and staff the blueprint to create shared learning experiences for years to come.

Tysen Gannon, LEED AP, is director of business development for AD Systems. Gannon has more than 15 years of experience in the architectural products industry, including roles in sales, product management, research and marketing, with a focus on glass and glazing, fenestration and façade systems. www.specadsystems.com

Meridian Brick Thin Brick Meridian Thin Brick combines the efficiencies of a thin brick with an extensive color palette and broad manufacturing network for nearly endless design options. With the new Meridian Thin Brick line, specifiers can choose from hundreds of size and color combinations, transforming any commercial and multifamily project into an inspiring space. At 3 inches thinner and 70 percent lighter than traditional brick, Meridian Thin Brick offers a versatile solution for every project type, whether interior, exterior, new construction, or remodels, while reducing structural requirements that may otherwise limit the use of brick. What’s more, specifiers can match face brick and thin brick colorways, ranging from muted neutrals to dark-and-moody earth tones.

Meridianbrick.com Website

RS#107

History. Engineering. Style. | AIROLITE

100 years after the first Airolite louver was installed in a hotel, Airolite remains the most trusted, reliable brand of architectural louvers, sun controls, screens and grilles in America. In fact, our three U.S. manufacturing centers produce more AMCA Licensed, MiamiDade County Qualified and Florida Product Approved products than any other manufacturer in our industry.

Specify Airolite for the look — and performance — you know will work.

louvers | sun controls | grilles 715.841.8757 | airolite.com

RS#10

Scranton Products Aria Partitions The University of Washington selected Scranton Products’ new line of Aria Partitions for their ability to meet restroom and shower privacy needs in a new dormitory. This was achieved with an enclosed, floor-to-ceiling stall design that combines striking aesthetics and low-maintenance, easy-to-clean features to ensure privacy and comfort. Aria Partitions are made of HDPE and are graffiti- and scratch-resistant, cleanable with the machine spray application of cleaner and dry down with a vacuum.

Aria partitions offered an “off-the-shelf” solution that allowed the university to easily and affordably accommodate the needs of the dorm’s 50-60 male, female and transgender students.

scrantonproducts.com Website RS#108

Cambria

Eldorado Stone

New Quartz Surfaces

Loire Valley RoughCut Stone

Cambria’s new product launch is one of the most significant design launches in the company’s history in terms of number of designs and use of advanced proprietary technology. The launch features everything from whites to grays and blacks with tones and movements never-before-accomplished, capturing market demand for today, yet classic enough for the future. All designs are “fabricator friendly,” with random veining resulting in a higher yield making them ideal for larger applications.

As more nuanced, up-to-date design options remain in high demand from project specifiers, the innovative multilayered color notes in Loire Valley RoughCut artfully blend contemporary hues with classic, nature-inspired textures to enhance commercial spaces. Inspired by the French countryside after which it derives its name, Loire Valley RoughCut presents a sophisticated gradient of ivories and muted creams with touches of sand and rust. The bold, hand-formed shapes of RoughCut incorporate embedded, fossilized artifacts on a roughly cleaved, pronounced face to mimic the character of limestone.

cambriausa.com Website

eldoradostone.com RS#109

Website

RS#110

Tarkett Fabricate Carpet Developed in partnership between Tarkett and menswear designer Jhane Barnes, Fabricate is a commercial carpet designed to effectively hide soil and coordinate easily with other flooring selections in the space. Using an innovative design technique she developed and Tarkett patented, Barnes flipped and rotated a series of tiny repeating modules, creating an almost-solid visual. Each six-foot repeat includes more than a thousand rotating motifs, making the overall pattern impossible to find.

tarkettna.com Website RS#104

commARCH // 28

Fire Resistant.

Design Consistent.

Fire-Rated Aluminum Window And Door Systems Aluflam has a complete offering of true extruded aluminum fire-rated vision doors, windows and glazed wall systems, fire-rated for up to 120 minutes. Available in all architectural finishes, our products are almost indistinguishable from non-fire-rated doors and windows. You won’t have to compromise aesthetics to satisfy safety regulations.

RS#90

Johnson Controls LUX KONOse Thermostat

Photo: Nick Merrick ŠHendrich Blessing

The LUX KONOse offers increased visibility, focused ease of use and adjustment assurance to create the best experience for residents of senior living facilities. The smart thermostat is the latest innovation from the Johnson Controls brand of LUX Products, which are known for their intuitive design and technology.

luxproducts.com Website

RS#12

Aluflam North America 562-926-9520 aluflam-usa.com

Fortress Athens Fencing The new Athens Commercial aluminum fencing line offers larger rail and wider picket profiles to the existing Athens residential line.

It utilizes a lightweight, tempered aluminum that is durable enough to perform as a commercial-grade boundary to protect any property.

Fortress utilizes an innovative fastener to create a clean panel that fits together seamlessly and makes it a luxurious option for builders and property owners looking for a quality solution. Athens Commercial is Fortress’ strongest aluminum fence product and has been tested to ensure it meets all ASTM commercial aluminum fence standards.

fortressbp.com Website RS#111

commARCH // 30

Ecore Aurora Flooring Aurora features a PUR coated calendered rubber wear layer fusion bonded to an Ecore-vulcanized composition rubber backing. The finished two-layered rubber flooring is designed to reduce the severity of patient or resident injuries while mitigating liability for the owners of a healthcare facility. Aurora is available as a standard sheet with 7mm thickness in 14 calming colors. It is ideal for a healthcare environment as it is hygienic, due to health-welded installation, quiet and offers ergonomic comfort for the staff, since it’s designed to reduce impact with every step.

ecorecommercial.com Website RS#112

commARCH // 31

Eureka Cliff Luminaires Ideal for illuminating exterior facades, entrances, yards and terraces while adding a modern edge, Cliff is a minimalist, wall mounted luminaire that enables multiple design options in the same compact package.

It can be installed in two different vertical orientations, encouraging designers to play with the luminaire silhouette to create a composition. Available in single or dual light direction, Cliff luminaires can be arranged to create different lighting patterns to meet  aesthetic or functional needs of a space.

eurekalighting.com Website RS#83

commARCH // 32

RS#42

LETS VAPOR COME AND GO, KEEPS AIR AND LIQUID OUT AND HELPS CONTRACTORS COMPLETE THE JOB FASTER. Contractors can achieve greater efficiency and outstanding results with the new permeable AIR-SHIELD SMP self-adhesive air barrier. It bonds fully to the substrate without primer, creating a membrane that resists air leakage and liquid intrusion, while remaining permeable. This is the latest addition to the full line of AIR-SHIELD products, each one designed to meet specific building needs. AIR-SHIELD SMP is the top choice to reduce costs without compromising quality.

For case studies and complete product information, visit wrmeadows.com or call 800.342.5976.

Green Furniture Concept Ascent Gently curved and a triumph of three-dimensional design, Ascent is unique, placemaking, configurable and truly seamless. Architects are sure to recognize and celebrate the possibilities. With Ascent, the limitations of straight-backed, straight-angled beam seaters are no more. Ascent can be configured to fit the structure of the building, and guide people flow. Not only does Ascent create 30-40% more space than conventional seating systems, it offers first-class comfort and a unique experience.

greenfc.com Website RS#113

commARCH // 34

RS#114

Allsteel Beyond Partitions Beyond pavilion, a new enhancement within Allsteel’s Beyond full-solution demountable partition system, features a rich set of materials and configurations that helps users reclaim unused vertical real estate in the open plan. All panels feature unitized construction and power-tool-driven leveling mechanisms that deliver ultimate flexibility, speed of installation, and efficient reconfiguration.

Beyond’s full-solution demountable partition system addresses a broad variety of user needs and preferences with frameless glass, framed glass, and solid panel options. This expansive offering of materials delivers tailored solutions to the modern workplace.

allsteeloffice.com Website

commARCH // 35

RS#115

GKD Bronze Collection Metal Fabric GKD Metal Fabrics now offers its complete portfolio of rigid/PC metal fabric in a showstopping bronze. This material offers the same technical properties as stainless steel but creates a completely different aesthetic for commercial exteriors and interiors. With an option for clear coating, specifiers can choose to keep the warm bronze tone for years to come or allow the panels to achieve the natural patina indicative of the material.

gkdmetalfabrics.com Website commARCH // 36

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Remember, when your customers want the very best products, it’s your bottom line that benefits. constantcomfort.com

The Fujitsu J-Series…Premium benefits. Premium profits.

RS#14

LEAD

BYEXAMPLE Five Women Share Stories of Inspiration, Resistance, and Perseverance in Architecture

Throughout much of history, architecture was a male-dominated profession. But that is changing.

Lured by the profession’s unique combination of creativity, problem-solving, analytics, and collaboration, women are pursuing careers in architecture in increasing numbers.

Between 40-50 percent of students in architecture schools are women*. Women make up nearly two in five newly licensed architects†. And women are eagerly pursuing their licenses, earning them ten months sooner than men†.

There is still a long way to go, as women are severely under-represented in the profession’s leadership. Only three of the top 100 firms are led by women‡, and just 10 percent of the highest-ranking jobs at leading firms are occupied by women**.

Change Is Coming The environment for women in the profession is changing, and it’s being led by some of the profession’s preeminent professionals.Distinguished leaders who have overcome barriers to rise to positions of influence.

And pave the way for future generations of female architects.

And all architects.

Five such leaders met with the editors of commARCH to share their stories, offer their views on inclusivity, and inspire young people to pursue careers in architecture.

Sources * A Short Survey of Women in Architecture. Retrieved from www.world-architects.com † Demographics. Retrieved from www.ncarb.org ‡ The Female Architects—Surviving the Journey to the Top. Retrieved from www.archinect.com ** Industry veteran offers advice for women in architecture. www.archpaper.com

Opportunity Comes from Passion Pam Touschner, FAIA Senior Principal, California Region Leader DLR Group, Los Angeles At the age of 12, Touschner knew she wanted to be an architect. But she was taught that architecture was not a job for a woman. Instead of discouraging her, that only strengthened her resolve. commARCH: What did people tell you when you said you wanted to become an architect?

Pam Touschner: I grew up (being told that as a woman) you were a nurse or a teacher…maybe a secretary. And that that’s what you did. Even my mother questioned (becoming an architect). She asked, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

And my response was, “Have I ever not done anything I said I was going to do?” That was probably my first time (standing up for myself). I’m gonna do this. cA: Why is it important for women to be in architecture?

PT: We all bring something different to the table whether (it’s from) our gender, or how we were brought up, ethnically, what we’re exposed to. I think all those experiences build upon the the places that we design. As an architect, an engineer, an interior designer, you’re trained to solve a problem. (Sometimes) it means that you’re building something. In some cases, it could be the space in between.

It could be how you arrange the furniture. What’s the color that you use on the walls to make somebody feel safe and secure? How do you create spaces within a school so that you can learn better? cA: What has architecture given to you?

PT: (Working in healthcare) it’s so rewarding to sit at a table with a nurse and a doctor and talk about what they do and how to design the space… so that they can do what they do best. (Designing schools), there is nothing that we could do that’s more important than educating our future. cA: What advice do you have for young women entering the field?

PT: If you have a passion for it, you put in the time, you’re excited about it, and I think opportunity comes from it, comes from that passion.

Watch the full interview: commarch.com/touschner

commARCH // 39

Risk Takers Become Great Leaders Kavitha Marudadu, AIA, LEED AP Associate Principal DMAC Architecture, Chicago A native of India, Marudadu is driven by the impact architecture can have on people. She believes her responsibilities don’t end until the project is complete, her vision is realized, and her client’s needs are met. commARCH: What is your approach to designing buildings?

Kavitha Marudadu: I strongly believe that the success of the design is rooted in how specific it is to the site and program and the client’s needs… It’s important to have a creative way to express the design, but it is also equally important to execute it right. I’m involved in the project from beginning to during construction. I’m on site making sure that it gets built the way it was intended to be. And when everything comes together, it’s truly a joy to see that come to fruition. cA: What inspired you to pursue your career?

KM: I grew up in Chennai. It’s a dense urban city in Southern India. Southern India is a beautiful part of the country. It’s very rich in culture and heritage and architecture. But…the idea of conscious design was not accessible to everyone. I was always intrigued by the role of design and how it can impact human life. cA: How has the work environment changed for women over the years?

KM: There’s never been a better time to be an architect than now. We see more and more women taking on leadership roles in the design industry. Can it be better? Yes, it can be. But it is changing, and I see there is promise in that in that sense. As architects it is our responsibility to shape the future…built environment. Creativity is important, (and) at the same time it’s important to be analytical and women are generally good at that. We are natural risk takers but at the same time we are pragmatic and that helps us become the great leaders that we need for the future. cA: Why should young women pursue architecture?

KM: Architecture is a very rewarding profession. To be able to use design as a way to affect people’s lives…is a huge opportunity. And if you have the passion and the aptitude for it, it’s one of the professions where you can feel truly rewarded.

Watch the full interview: commarch.com/marudadu

commARCH // 40

Full Steam Ahead Angela Whitaker-Williams, AIA, LEED AP Principal, K-12 Education Perkins and Will, Austin When she was young, Whitaker-Williams derived personal joy from making things. As an architect, she still has that joy, but it also comes from building relationships with her clients and delivering an experience for them. commARCH: Who was your biggest influence in pursuing your career?

Angela Whitaker-Williams: My dad was a big influence. He was a firefighter in Dallas and on his days off we would hang out in the garage and make things. So I spent a lot of my youth growing up with power tools. Anything I dreamed up we would make in the garage. And that was something that I considered fun and it was kind of father-daughter bonding kind of stuff. But it gave me a love for taking a sketch and making something out of it, translating it to something real. cA: How has the environment changed for women over the years?

AWW: When I decided to become an architect, I had no clue it was a male-dominated profession. And quite honestly, I didn’t care because it seemed like the great mix of science and art and making stuff that I always loved. So I just went in full steam ahead. My first college experience was at Texas A&M University and I was one of three females in a graduating class of 500 males. It never crossed my mind that that was an issue until I got in the workplace. In the workplace, it became a different story. cA: Why do you enjoy your work?

AWW: Really, truly great architecture is about experience. If anyone’s been to a really magnificent space, they carry it in their hearts. They remember what it felt like to be there, what it smelled like. Their memories of that place become even bigger than the place itself. Really great design carries with it the experience of being there and that experience becomes part of your life experience. cA: How does the profession benefit from having more women in it?

AWW: It’s really important to have women in the profession. Honestly, it’s more than women. The profession needs diversity in general. Part of our job is to translate the needs of people into reality, into their dreams, their vision, and their vision is through a very diverse lens. And we as a design profession need a diverse lens to be able to reflect on that. It’s all kinds of diversity that’s required for us to really take a variety of life experiences and use that lens by which we hear things, translate those ideas and make them culturally appropriate for all people.

Watch the full interview: commarch.com/whitaker-williams

commARCH // 41

WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE

40-50%

of students in architecture schools are women*

10 months how much sooner women earn initial license than men, on average â€

3

of the top 100 firms are led by women‥

16

firms have no women in senior positions**

2 in 5

new architects are women†

18%

of licensed architects are women‡

10%

of the highest-ranking jobs at leading firms are occupied by women**

Sources * A Short Survey of Women in Architecture. Retrieved from www.world-architects.com † Demographics. Retrieved from www.ncarb.org ‡ The Female Architects—Surviving the Journey to the Top. Retrieved from www.archinect.com ** Industry veteran offers advice for women in architecture. www.archpaper.com commARCH // 43

It’s About What You Love Suzette Subance, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP Managing Executive/Studio Creative Director TPG Architecture, New York For many women, starting a family means putting their careers aside. As a mother to two children, Subance knows the transformative power that parenthood has, but says that women don’t have to give up the careers they love. commARCH: How did becoming a mother change the way you approach your work?

Suzette Subance: Becoming a mother is a pivotal point in any woman’s life. Your focus starts to pivot. For me, what it’s done for me professionally, I’ve been able to really look to my team holistically, like really look at the holistic approach on projects and really looking into ways of empowering my team. Trying to see ways that I can make them do the best work that they can and also make me the best manager and leader that I can be. cA: What does the profession need to do to accommodate young parents?

SS: (The architecture profession) has been changing over the past couple of years. And we want to see more of it. Women do need to be in leadership positions. Part of it is when women are starting a family, it becomes very challenging to stay. That’s where you look towards how to support (your people).

If I see this person as someone who could be a great future leader, how can I support them to keep them in the workforce? cA: Why is this important to the industry?

SS: Inclusivity and diversity is the most important thing.

The more people and the more diverse opinions and thoughts that you have at the leadership level just makes for a richer conversation. I think that’s, that’s really what you’re trying to get at is really that idea of inclusivity and diversity. cA: What advice do you have for young women entering the field?

SS: People don’t become an architect or an interior designer or a furniture designer or an industrial designer because of the money. They do it because of the love. This is something that is a part of who they are. And I think that’s what’s really interesting about what we do. It’s really about what you love. And I don’t think anyone ever wants to say goodbye to their first love. They want to continue it.

Watch the full interview: commarch.com/subance

commARCH // 44

‘I’m the Architect’ Beth Campbell, AIA, LEED Chief Executive Officer Wilson Associates, Las Vegas An industry veteran of more than 25 years, Campbell has dozens of high-profile projects in her portfolio. But perhaps her most impressive project was to realign the culture at Wilson Associates, empowering employees to achieve excellence. commARCH: How did you become interested in architecture?

Beth Campbell: When I was a small child, back in the seventies (I would) go to cocktail parties with my parents. (When I got home I would) redesign the house that I was in. My dad caught me doing that. So he helped to get me a drafting table and all the paraphernalia to allow me to sketch and design at home. cA: What was it like working in a male-dominated field when you were starting out?

BC: At my first job, we did a lot of K through 12 schools and I’d be on a job site, and I would get confused for a student teacher that got lost. I would say, “No, I’m the architect.” So, it was just those things that would happen and it never really seemed to sway me or to upset me. cA: Why is diversity important to architecture?

BC: In the world of architecture, in the realm of design, having a diverse workforce – whether it’s gender or culture, ethnicity, backgrounds, how were you brought up, where you were educated – that actually gives a richer tapestry to the design firm itself. You’ll come up with better design solutions. But quite honestly, without clients, we can’t design. Our clients are very complex and varied. We in the industry need to be very cognizant of that and be very smart and continue to build up a wide range of skills within each of our own firms. cA: What do you say to young women entering the field?

BC: I really look forward to the day in our industry of architecture and design that we could just be free of any bias. (When) there will be a day in evolution where it seems so seamless that we only realize that it is dissipated or disappeared when we look at it in reflection. In the meantime, all of us are in control over our own path and our choosing. I always say if you encounter a glass ceiling, first of all, is it real or is it perceived by you? But if you really have a glass ceiling, whether it be a legacy player refusing to retire or a gender bias, what I always say is you just simply need to find another room.

Watch the full interview: commarch.com/campbell

commARCH // 45

Acuity Winona Wincove Cove Lighting System The Winona Wincove is an integrated, prefabricated cove lighting system designed to minimize common complications with cove lighting installation. It discreetly illuminates indoor architectural spaces. Ideal for multiple applications, it provides a broad range of lumen outputs, color temperature options and flicker-free dimming from the embedded eldoLED technology. Wincove can be specified with nLight wired and wireless controls to create a digital lighting network that yields higher energy efficiency, building code compliance and maximum occupant comfort.

acuitybrands.com Website RS#116

commARCH // 46

When

Boulder

Lumber

in

Boulder, CO needed a new roof due to damage caused by wind events, they chose RapidLock EPDM.

A Revolutionary Roof Attachment Method

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VersiFleece RapidLock: revolutionizing the roof industry.

Versico Roofing Systems VersiFleece® RapidLock (RL™) Roofing System is a revolutionary membrane attachment method that provides a fully adhered system without the use of adhesives.

BUILDING VALUE 800.992.7663 | www.versico.com

VersiFleece RapidLock Systems are available in EPDM, TPO and PVC. Versico, VersiFleece, and the Versico logo are trademarks of Versico. RL is a trademark of Carlisle Construction Materials, LLC. © 2020 Versico.

RS#5

POISED FOR

VICTORY

In the Midst of a Pandemic, Developers Push Forward on a Landmark Sports Complex If you were to invest north of $200 million during the Coronavirus Pandemic, would it be in new commercial construction?

And, if you were to invest, what market would make the most sense based on its growth projections, and its view by the American family as “essential?” Would a location in a Coronavirus hot spot give you pause?

Just a few months ago, the overall construction industry was optimistic and growing. To be sure, it was challenged. Labor shortages were creating an expensive workforce due to a competitive atmosphere. Cost pressures were increasing revenue only to degrade profitability. Supply chain restraints and tariffs were causing uncertainty. As design build firms grew in popularity, the role of the architect was changing.

Yet, the industry seemed unstoppable. Infrastructure and transportation upgrades were expected to pour $4 trillion into the marketplace. Smart city megaprojects were being based on the global trend towards urbanization, with 68 percent of the world’s population projected to live in urban areas by 2050.

Evolving innovation and technologies, such as drones, robotics, and modularization, were being deployed to overcome some challenges.

As of writing this article, construction remains an “essential business” throughout most of the country. Even Boston, that had put a stop to the majority of its construction in March 2020, has restarted.

So, on to the second question, in what “essential” market would you invest?

Rethink Performance with Portfolio

small aperture • sleek design • customizable • whole space solution 2-inch LED Downlight, Adjustable & Cylinder Family Portfolio provides sleek design without sacrificing performance.

The breadth of customizable solutions include: connected control, various dimming options, color temperature, CRI, beam distribution and reflector finishes that help you meet and complete the most demanding specification needs.

For more information, visit Cooperlighting.com.

Connect with us on social media!

RS#50

Youth sports, in the US alone, is a $19.2 billion market. Globally, the youth sports market is projected to be $83.1 billion by 2023 (Statista/Christina Gough, December 10, 2019).

By way of comparison, the NFL, the world’s juggernaut of professional sports, is worth $15 billion (Wintergreen Research, Inc., November 2019).

The National Council of Youth Sports estimates more than 60 million boys and girls participate in US organized sports. Furthermore, 65 percent of youth under 17 participate in at least one organized sport during their childhood and adolescence (J Phys Act Health, March 2015).

All that participation adds up to spending: • 63 percent of American families spend $100 to $499 per child, per month • 18 percent spend $500-$999 • 11 percent spend $1,000-$1,999 • 8 percent spend $2,000 or more Wherever US families fit within spending levels, they universally look at youth sports as a “necessity.” They would rather cut back on entertainment (55%), take fewer vacations (40%), and/or even cut back on their retirement savings (23%) than not support their child’s sports activities. (USA TODAY, September 5, 2017, TD Ameritrade survey of parents between 30 and 60 years old).

Youth sports is a nascent market, that will continue to grow.

The Aspen Institute predicts there likely will be a return to youth sports this summer, beginning in July; with 75 percent of overall participants returning in the fall. (Tom Farrey, executive director of Institute’s Sports and Society Program, April 1, 2020).

commARCH // 50

Always have their color.

Celect® Canvas Cellular Composite Siding is a highly durable, gorgeous exterior option that’s paintable in thousands of pastel shades.

Thousands. www.CelectTheBest.com/TrophyPark or 1.855.ROYAL85

For product warranty details, please visit CelectWarranty.com © 2020 ROYAL BUILDING PRODUCTS

RS#51

Clear Business Case Trophy Park in Jackson, New Jersey, has been in the works for eight years. It is breaking ground during the worst economic conditions in most people’s memories.

It is a new $212 million, 194-acre signature sports facility for grade school through collegiate competitive sports such as arena football, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, field hockey, futsal, rugby, softball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, and wrestling.

It will accommodate an annual international attendance of more than 1 million athletes and their families.

The business case is clear and worthy of investment.

It just happens to be during a very uncertain time.

But it has to be built. The Park is already sold out beginning next summer, and has a required majority completion date of May 2021.

Its location is ideal, next to Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor in Jackson, and a short drive to Atlantic City, The Jersey Shore, Philadelphia, and New York City.

Athletes will be able to take advantage of the amusement park almost effortlessly during their off hours.

commARCH // 52

17 stories, an entire city block and an airplane engine.

Pella Architectural Solutions helps bring new life to an urban neighborhood.

When Kraus-Anderson Construction in Minneapolis needed a window supplier to help transform an entire city block into a mixed-use development with a 17-story apartment building, the Pella Architectural Solutions team was up for the challenge. To make sure they met such strict performance requirements, Pella worked with Kraus-Anderson to conduct numerous air, water and structural performance tests on a 40ft. wall assembly that featured Pella® fiberglass and competitive aluminum windows. They even performed a dynamic water test powered by an airplane engine.

The result? Pella passed every test — ensuring a project of this scale would perform for years to come.

PELLA ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS. FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION.

The KA Block includes the new Kraus-Anderson Construction headquarters, HQ Apartments, Finnegan’s microbrewery and the Elliot Park Hotel. © 2020 Pella Corporation

RS#55

pella.com/urbanarchitecture

Trophy Park is more than a sports complex. The facility will include: • Ten multi-purpose turf fields – eight turf and two grass fields with lights • Sixteen turf baseball fields – interchangeable into multipurpose fields with lights • A 400,000 square-foot indoor arena, housing 16 basketball courts and an indoor turf area • A 6,000 seat outdoor soccer stadium • Thirty-Two Athlete Village housing units for up to 2,000 athletes per week (128 total athlete suites) • One Olympic-size pool and recreation center serving the Athlete Village housing guests • Two 150-room Wyndham branded hotels (La Quinta and Hawthorne Suites) • A Conference center • A restaurant • An 800-seat Food Court • A Welcome center • Local, County, and State Police Station (donated by Trophy Park) • Fire Station (donated by Trophy Park) • EMS Station (donated by Trophy Park)

commARCH // 54

Update your restroom to hygienic touch-free.

Now more than ever, making the commercial restroom experience touch-free is crucial to public health and safety. Sloan is ready to provide updates from manual to touchfree fixtures, with products for every budget.

Shown above: DSCT-8200 Designer Series™ Sink and EAF-100-ISM Optima® Faucet with ESD-1500 Sloan® Foam Soap Dispenser, EHD-501 Sloan® XLERATOR® Hand Dryer, ADA Recess Kit. Shown left: G2 8186 Exposed Sensor Urinal Flushometer, G2 8111 Exposed Sensor Water Closet Flushometer.

Visit sloan.com/ touch-free or call 800.982.5839 RS#52

Trophy Park will be built and maintained by local unions from the Monmouth and Ocean County Building Trades. The union pension funds are the primary source for funding.

Trophy Park will be partnering and running events with Special Olympics New Jersey and Susan G. Komen Foundation. The facility will create approximately $2million in tax revenue, with the vast majority earmarked for local education. It will also create approximately 265 full-time jobs and 1,000 seasonal positions. commARCH Coverage commARCH will be following Trophy Park from concept through completion over the next year.

Our omni-media coverage will include podcasts, website experiences, video, eNewsletters,

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project visualizations, and, of course, in our print and digital editions. It is going to require an expedient build with profound communication amongst all involved, so the content will be compelling and educational.

The advertisers you see within this special section are product category sponsors. They are exclusively specified throughout this campus.

This is just the beginning. Over the next year, we will be taking a deep, behind-the-scenes look at the entire process of designing and building a world-class complex. Our goal is to provide content that’s interesting and informative, and that will inform your daily work.

Here’s the missing piece to your healthcare, hospitality or multifamily project – SurePods factory-built bathrooms to your specifications.

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IT’S TIME TO THINK INSIDE THE BOX. CHOOSE THE SURE THING. RS#54

Integrated, pretested plumbing and electric, code compliant and ready for final hookup.

Waterproof, thin profile subfloor supports floor finish while providing a seamless transition to the adjoining floor.

Completely finished interior, clean & ready to go.

Steel framing engineered for superior strength and accuracy.

Moisture-resistant, abuse-resistant wallboard, glued and screwed to framing.

courage. commARCH // 58

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C A S E

S T U D Y

Historic Façade Project: St. George Façade Restoration Location: Brooklyn Architects: CTA Architects, New York Client: St. George Tower & Grill The iconic St. George Tower, designed by Emery Roth in the late 1920s, is located in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. As a result, all exterior changes fall under the jurisdiction of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

When the time came to restore the façade, building owner St. George Tower & Grill hired CTA Architects.

“The restoration of the 111 Hicks Street façade was an interesting historic preservation challenge because this structure is both a highly ornamented early 20th century building and an example of true modern high-rise construction techniques,” said CTA principal Daniel J. Allen, AIA. Website commARCH // 60

The $2.8 million renovation included the replacement of approximately 13,000-square feet of brick, terra cotta ashlar, copings, and ornamental units, and new monumental steel-framed windows.

Among the project’s many challenges were meeting safety and historic preservation regulations, and minimizing the impact on residents.

To read the full case story, visit commARCH.com/st-george.

LIBRARY OF THE

FUTURE

Photos by Alan Blakely, courtesy of Rockfon

The Advanced Learning Library (ALL) in Wichita, Kansas is the city’s newest and largest public library, replacing the old downtown branch. “Open for all,” a play on its inclusive acronym, the project’s modern appearance and amenities welcome the community to congregate, collaborate, concentrate and contemplate.

The new 105,200-square-foot, two-story learning facility’s multifunctional environment meant selecting products to optimize each area’s purpose and performance within a unified design.

Designed by GLMV Architecture with significant input from the community, the new ALL replaced the smaller, less efficient, less accessible, former downtown branch.

The vision for the new facility was no less than to become the “library of the future.”

“The new building will enable us to do more in our work to ensure that our residents have equitable access to information,” said Cynthia Berner, director of libraries for the City of Wichita. “Expanded public computing services will enable us to enhance digital access and literacy for everyone in our community.”

Copper Metallic Aesthetic Through the ALL’s main entrance, the Gateway Gallery serves as a comfortable lobby and display area within the Community Pavilion. Above, a skylight draws natural light into the interior. Looking up, library visitors also notice the distinctive, copper-colored, perforated metal ceiling panels.

“The metal ceiling was chosen for the lobby area to harmonize the interior and exterior palettes,” explained GLMV Architecture’s interior designer, Christy Wendler, IIDA, NCIDQ. “The ceiling panel was also used on the vertical face of the atrium opening, which created an ideal transition.”

A custom “Copper Metallic” color was specified to complement the building’s exterior panels and other interior finishes. “Working through the custom order commARCH // 62

was painless,” added Wendler. Rockfon provided finished samples for the designer’s approval prior to manufacturing the metal ceiling panels and matching perimeter trim.

Perhaps a subconscious influence, the ceiling’s copper finish also is a similar shade to the spots on “Mo the Giraffe,” unofficial mascot of the Children’s Pavilion. A multi-purpose conference room also carries through the copper-color metal ceiling design.

In addition to the continuity of appearance, Rockfon’s metal ceiling tiles contribute to optimized acoustics for both those in the conference room and those mingling in the spacious lobby and Gateway Gallery.

High Absorption Acoustics The ALL embodies modern cultural design with large open and flowing spaces, high ceilings and stately materials including stone, glass, wood and metal. Yet a high level of acoustic control still had to be implemented without negatively impacting the aesthetics.

“Large, visually-impressive spaces can be very exclusive if the acoustics are not handled properly,” explained Rockfon’s acoustics specialist, Gary Madaras, Ph.D. “Elders with hearing impairments, people whose native language is not English and young children whose auditory cognition is not yet fully developed can have great difficulty understanding speech in noisy and reverberant environments. Even people with healthy hearing can feel fatigued and stressed after short periods of time.”

The acoustic plan to make the ALL acoustically accessible and comfortable for everyone was to perforate the extensive metal ceilings, which allows sound to pass through the metal and be absorbed by a fibrous mat laid on top of the metal.

According to Rockfon’s Optimized Acoustics design approach, the first step to optimal acoustics in any space is to assess the amount of sound absorption needed from the ceiling based on the likelihood of noise and the sensitivity of the occupants’ activities to noise. “In a modern public library, there can be high noise levels at the same time that many people need to concentrate,” continued Madaras. “In the case of the ALL, the ceilings had to provide the best level of sound absorption possible, an NRC of 0.90 or higher.”

This simple, but high-performance acoustic design approach was implemented in the large conference room, providing speech intelligibility during meetings and multi-media events, as well as in the Gateway Gallery and Community Pavilion lobby, providing acoustic comfort and preventing noise transmission into the more private areas.

On the ALL, Rockfon Planostile Snap-in metal panels also were specified with end-to-end quarter-inch-diameter circular perforations. Along with the acoustical pad, the ceiling panels offer a high-absorbing noise reduction coefficient of NRC 0.90.

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The Future of Libraries One of the most core values of the public library is equitable access to information. This was noted in the Wichita Public Library white paper, Libraries of the Future: Likely Roles and Implications for Facility Design.

The Library’s white paper drew an important conclusion about the role of libraries in the community: “As the roles and services change, one constant will remain. The success of the library of the future will remain measured, as always, by the institution’s ability to assure equality of opportunity and to contribute to the quality of life for all citizens.”

Wichita Public Library Foundation board member Mark Chamberlin stated, “For me, libraries are about connecting people – connecting them with information, connecting people with our history, connecting people to our community. All those connections are made with the simple intention of improving the lives of all of our citizens.”

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Cultured Stone Arctic Hewn Stone Arctic Hewn Stone offers a crisp white color palette that subtly highlights the profile’s rustic texture and crisp, clean lines to integrate easily with a variety of design styles. As the newest and lightest palette in the profile, Arctic Hewn Stone blends natural, rough texture with fresh color highlights for a timeless look that brightens traditional and contemporary spaces with enduring character and depth.

culturedstone.com

Website RS#117

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C A S E

S T U D Y

Lazaridis Institute Project: Lazaridis Institute Executive Development Center Location: Kitchener, Ontario Designer/Specifier: Dfy Studio Client: Wilfrid Laurier University For its new Executive Development Center, the Lazaridis Institute hired Dfy Studio to transform the 120-year-old building from old to new, developing a modern facility that preserved the existing elements of the space. “We had beautiful bones to work with,” said Tahani Gunal, senior designer at Dfy. "We wanted the elements of the lighting and walls to create a clean, crisp, and vibrant environment."

The multi-award-winning Arena was the lighting system of choice. A unique magnetic ring by Eureka Lighting, twelve Arena fixtures were placed across the industrial ceiling. “Arena’s size was the right fit for the large event space,” Gunal said. “And Slice adds style and uniqueness to enhance its surroundings. Together they add to the appeal of the space without taking away from its original beauty.”

In the main event room, fixtures needed to hold their own in a space that already had a lot going on with open beams, pipes and duct work.

And the space itself would serve many functions.

To read the full case story, visit commARCH.com/lazaridis.

Website commARCH // 66

Photos Courtesy of Technical Glass Products

C A S E

S T U D Y

High-Tech Lab Project: Middletown High School Renovation Location: Middletown, New York Architects: KG+D Architects, Mount Kisco, New York Client: Middletown School District One of the main features of the renovation of Middletown High School was a cutting-edge central innovation lab designed to fit into the existing, underused interior courtyard space. KG+D Architects conceptualized the lab with high ceilings, clerestory windows and a wide-open space for students and teachers. In order to bring the space up to code while meeting aesthetic goals, the design team selected Technical Glass Products’ award-winning Fireframes ClearView System for the interior walls of the computer lab.

The newly updated computer lab with TGP’s Fireframes ClearView System, along with smaller breakout spaces and new classroom wings, is already helping students in a district where 63 percent are eligible for free lunch. “It’s been purposeful to build out that look and feel of poverty, and the kids have responded to it in droves,” Middletown Superintendent Ken Eastwood said. “They now think, ‘Wow, I have that available to me and I can do these types of things.”

Read the full case study at commarch.com/Middletown-high-school Website commARCH // 67

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Colorful STEM Project: eSTEM Academy Location: Eastvale, California Architects: LPA Inc., Irvine, California Client: Corona Norco Unified School District The eSTEM Academy high school in Eastvale, Calif., was built to meet the growing demand for STEM graduates. A 107,000 square-foot, two-building school has 18 classrooms and 13 labs for robotics, 3D printing, manufacturing, health science, medical technology and other areas.

As part of the new construction, over 35,000 square feet of Laminators Incorporated Omega-Lite ACM panels in Bright Silver Metallic, Coppertone Metallic and Brilliant Orange were installed using Laminators’ proprietary Dry Seal installation system.

Omega-Lite ACM panels offer a highly decorative, strong, and durable surface finish for exterior wall surfaces. The vivid colors add dimension and colorfully dress the exterior of buildings’ design. The specialty Brilliant Orange color flows perfectly with the school’s colors of orange and blue.

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Photo: Laurian Ghinitoiu

C A S E

S T U D Y

New Heights of Design & Efficiency Project: The Heights Location: Arlington, Virginia Architects: Bjarke Ingels Group (design architect); Leo A Daly (executive architect) Client: Arlington Public Schools

While public schools may not be known for their forward-thinking designs, The Heights Building in Arlington is the exception. Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in connection with Leo A Daly, designed the secondary school with a bold, energetic vision.

The school consists of a stack of five rectangular levels that rotate around the main atrium. Each classroom level has a direct connection to exterior green terraces, creating a sense of openness and opportunities for indoor-outdoor learning that set it apart from traditional school settings.

The glazing systems provided by YKK AP America were integral to providing a high-performance facade. Its enerGfacade YUW 750 TU XT unitized curtain wall system was used to curb the building’s energy appetite in areas where large spans of glass were needed while YKK AP’s high performance YCW 750 SplineTech curtain wall was customized for use in areas where the design was more intricate. The building is currently on track for a LEED Gold rating.

Website

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OLYMPIC I N S P I R AT I O N S BIM 360 innovations facilitate fund-raising for the U.S. Olympic Museum

By Sean O’Keefe

Photos courtesy of GE Johnson Construction Company

At the pinnacle of human achievement are the places we create, the relationships we forge and the people we become. Perhaps the most relentless among us are Olympians; people whose physical gifts and lifelong fortitude lead them to a singular goal: to be the best in the world. Honoring the legacies and the spirit of the Olympic Games is no small task, so the opening of The United States Olympic Museum in Colorado Springs, CO in late 2019 will just be the beginning of its mission to memorialize American Olympians’ achievements.

Renderings courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro

“U.S. Olympians and Paralympians inspire us all,” says Chris Liedel, chief executive officer of The United States Olympic Museum. “They deserve a cultural destination that celebrates their dedication to a heroic journey.”

With a dynamic building form that defies typical construction, the museum’s long-term ambitions call for an ever-evolving collection of exhibits honoring U.S. Olympic history and achievements. Designed by architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the museum’s iconic form idealizes athletic elegance by twisting itself around a central atrium in a centrifugal motion.

The design is inspired by a discus thrower winding up and unfurling to release, creating supreme force using only his body.

Though just four stories high, the museum’s internal structure is composed of fifteen independent elevations gradually spiraling down from the top-floor welcome center. No two planes run parallel for long as visitors descend through a series of loft galleries at a pace propelled by individual motion and interest.

Photos courtesy of GE Johnson Construction Company commARCH // 71

Photos courtesy of GE Johnson Construction Company

The exterior skin is composed of nearly 10,000 interlocking aluminum petals, each independently modeled, fabricated and precisely installed to reveal a beveled athletic armor resembling metal in motion.

“The museum’s world-class architecture sets the stage for success and contributes to Colorado Springs’ City of Champions initiative,” shares Liedel, who joined the endeavor in May 2018. “The intent is to deliver an equally impressive visitor experience that showcases a collection of customizable content that refreshes continually. The Diamond Donor Program is an important part of that mission.”

Leveraging the structure’s incredible design, intensely intricate construction and important role in preserving future U.S. Olympic and Paralympic history as it happens, the museum is now offering a unique sponsorship opportunity to the public. Responding to an outpouring of interest from athletes and the public, the newly launched Diamond Donor Program allows individuals, communities, organizations and businesses to have their names involved in the museum’s creation.

“Donors are now able to adopt panels to memorialize the achievements of America’s hometown heroes.

The proceeds will fund the museum’s ability to continually refresh content,” Liedel says.

The challenge of using a three-dimensional design and construction model as a fund-raising platform was new for Liedel, whose previous leadership roles included six years as President of Smithsonian Enterprises and 16 as the CEO of National Geographic. “We formed a strategic partnership with MG, a construction information technology specialist.

They were able to take this wonderful intellectual asset in the Building Information Model (BIM) and make it accessible to the public in an intuitive, web-ready way.”

Jarod Schultz, Director of Research and Development for MG AEC Technology Partners (MG), employs the latest technology to push the edge of innovation on unusual challenges while delivering measurable results. MG offers clients a holistic approach to design and construction management software from sales to training, to workflow analysis.

“MG’s goal is finding solutions to challenges regardless of where they start,” Schultz says, whose nearly 30 years on the front lines of design and construction technology has afforded him great perspective on the pace of changing technology today. When MG was approached by GE Johnson Construction Company to help develop the Diamond Donor Program using the BIM model for the museum, Schultz understood that it was an extraordinary opportunity. “We are taking an astounding amount of information and bite-sizing it for global fundraising to honor U.S. Olympians in this awesome building. Very cool stuff!”

Renderings courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro

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Renderings courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Fundamentally, the technological challenge was to figure out the most efficient pathway through the process. Conceptualizing the logistics of how users would interact with the model to virtually visit the museum, to become invested in panel adoption and to create personalized messaging on a panel or series of panels was mapped out, engineered, tested and launched. Because the panel fabrication, placement and installation sequence required by construction was so precise, serial numbers were required to make each one wholly unique and identifiable on the finished building. Like buying a star, sponsors will receive a certificate of adoption and a unique url generated for them to share privately or publicly.

A key component of MG’s engineering solution was Autodesk Forge, a cloud-based developer’s toolbox that unlocks the power of design and engineering data to connect teams, workflows and processes. Through thoughtful systems integration, MG is using Forge to enhance and customize the connections between design and construction teams building structures such as the U.S. Olympic Museum all over the United

States. Forge is used to develop links between the BIM model and outside data inputs such as cost, schedule, weather, GIS mapping, enterprise resource planning, staffing—anything that can be mathematically quantified.

“Whether it’s sustainability and energy performance, increasing productivity through workflow improvements or donating to a good cause,” says Schultz, “technology should always be an asset in enabling clients to achieve their vision.”

To learn more about U.S. Olympic Museum’s Diamond Donor Program please visit: www.usolympicmuseum.org/adopt-a-panel

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S T U D Y

A Vital Facility Project: Braille Institute Anaheim Facility Location: Middletown, New York Architects: Ware Malcomb, Irvine, California Client: Braille Institute The Braille Institute is a non-profit organization offering a broad range of free programs, classes and services for thousands of students of all ages to empower themselves to live more enriching lives with blindness and vision loss. Founded in 1919 in Los Angeles, the Braille Institute first opened its Anaheim facility in 1971, with Ware Malcomb completing various projects on their campus since that time. Having served the community for four decades, the existing buildings were demolished to make way for a new state-of-the-art facility.

The new, 14,735 square foot single-story facility includes a variety of unique spaces, such as an instructional kitchen, to teach the visually impaired life skills and how to navigate through the world. The new building also features a central courtyard that contains multiple auditory and tactile guides including a bubbling fountain and contrasting surfaces. commARCH // 74

“Moving all of Braille Institute’s Anaheim facilities together into one large building instead of several smaller ones has made it much easier for their patrons to navigate, and creates operational efficiencies,” said Tom Myers, Regional Vice President of Ware Malcomb.

“The Braille Institute has been providing vital services for the visually impaired community in Southern California for 100 years, and this new space will allow them to do even more in the decades ahead,” said Mary Cheval, Director, Interior Architecture & Design of Ware Malcomb.

Website

A-Light Aloft Linear Luminaire System Aloft has been developed to enable designers to create unique lighting environments. With fully articulating elbows and connectors, Aloft allows designers to create unique configurations. By manipulating a horizontal rotation of 200 degrees, Aloft can be shaped in countless ways and locked in place to create the desired design. And a 360 degree rotation joiner enables full control of the direction of the light.

alights.com Website RS#118

C A S E

S T U D Y

Amenities Floors Chicago Office Towers Showcase Trend Projects: 123 North Wacker & 200 West Jackson Location: Chicago Architects: Wright Heerema Architects, Chicago

Workplace design has morphed and transformed to accommodate what drives today’s younger workforce. The buildings with the best amenities are typically leasing faster and getting higher rents.

When the glass walls are open, tenants step right up to a glass railing effectively blurring the boundary between the building’s edge and the view beyond.

At 123 N Wacker and 200 West Jackson in Chicago, Wright Heerema Architects designed amenities floors incorporating community gathering spaces, or modern tenant lounges, allowing employees to gather and socialize, boosting existing tenant satisfaction and attracting new ones alike.

Outdoor Getaway

Skyline View

Operable folding glass windows open the space to the outside on two sides, providing panoramic views of downtown. To achieve this, the architects specified three-panel NanaWall SL70 window systems. The folding glass wall system provides exceptional protection from exterior elements and delivers a comfortable and quiet indoor experience when closed.

Located on the 30th floor, the Amenity Floor at 123 North Wacker features wood paneled walls, stone accents, fireplaces, and a coffee bar. The most spectacular focal point is the skyline view out of the walls of operable glass.

The architects specified three NanaWall SL70 folding glass wall systems that are each 10-feet tall and over 26-feet wide to fill the east facing side of the building. The thermally broken SL70 folding glass wall system is engineered for heavy duty performance in larger sizes for virtually all environments. commARCH // 76

200 West Jackson boasts “The Notch” on the 28th floor. The architects created a terrace lounge with floor to ceiling windows that gives the tenants air, light, and a refreshing outdoor getaway.

Design elements draw on indoor/outdoor appeal with lots of wood elements and greenery, not to mention loads of fresh air and daylight.

Website

VIEW SCHOOL WITH A

Finegold Alexander Architects Completes Boston School Renovation One of America’s oldest continually operating schools got a modern makeover.

Last fall, the $15 million renovation of Boston Public Schools’ Eliot Innovation School building was completed. The two-year construction project is the final phase of an overall $33 million project to two Eliot Innovation school buildings.

The Eliot School is the oldest continuously operating school in the United States and has been located in the North End for its entire history. The school opened as the North Writing School in 1713 and has educated many famous Bostonians, including Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.

“I am thrilled to celebrate the opening of a new Eliot School building,” said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. “This school is a big part of the North End’s history and will remain the heart and soul of this community for decades to come. Thank you to all our partners who made this possible. I look forward to all our students, teachers, families and the entire BPS community enjoying this beautiful building.”

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One of American’s oldest schools got a modern makeover.

Finegold Alexander Architects served as the design architect and architect of record.

“The Eliot Innovation School offers students a truly unique experience,” said Rebecca Berry, President, Finegold Alexander Architects. “The waterfront location affords harbor, Zakim Bridge and USS Constitution views, with the Freedom Trail steps from the front door connecting students to their natural and historical environment and significantly enhancing the learning experience.”

The property was originally constructed in the 1960s as an FDA testing facility, more recently housing retail and office spaces. One of the biggest design successes is the creation of a vibrant school identity for this formerly nondescript office building.

Construction of the school at 585 Commercial Street began in 2017 and the new, 42,000-square-foot school facility opened for the 2019 school year in September.

Interior highlights include a digital art studio, technology classroom with robotics lab and laser cutter, media center, and 18 new classrooms that promote collaborative learning.

The building features eight brightly colored projecting bays, which create “learning nooks” geared for small group instruction and collaborative learning. Exterior upgrades include a new schoolyard with play structure, new sidewalks, and an accessible entry.

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Other design highlights include: • A new stair and elevator tower oriented to the Zakim Bridge clearly identify the school entry and provide for accessibility.

• The colors used on the projecting bays and in the interior reference the natural world—green, blue and aqua—earth, sky, water.

• Classroom furnishings are designed to allow for a variety of instructional styles, and flexibility within classrooms.

• The kitchen design enables the Boston Public Schools’ Fresh Food Initiative to provide fresh produce and healthy meals to students.

• A new exterior play space is accessible to the community and the new site design provides an additional means of access to the Boston Harborwalk.

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C L A S S I F I E D S

P R O D U C T Dryer Duct Booster® Reference Guide Shows How to Substantially Reduce Drying Times and Lint Build-Up 8 Page Brochure highlights clothes dryer Duct Boosters offered for home, multi-family and laundromat applications.

Contains product features, tables for model selection, specifications, duct sizing, plus installation benefits, typical duct layouts and system accessories.

Dryer Duct Booster systems save significant energy by reducing drying times 50% or more. Reduces lint build-up, dust & fire hazards by maintaining proper velocity in duct runs. Slashes duct cleaning maintenance costs in commercial systems. www.tjernlund.com//dryer_ booster.htm

It’s about collaboration, networking, and the sharing of actionable ideas. The buildings and the people who make them great. Building tours, networking and lively memories. commARCH is focused on creating great experiences for all attendees and sharing them with the larger commARCH family. Monthly city-focused events and quarterly conferences will launch in 2020.

Updates, inspiration, reminders and energizers. commARCH’s eNewsletters are timed for the highest open rates by an audience that has selected this information experience. Ideas, news, building types and products, tech and more.

Content accessibility is one of commARCH’s core values. The website is designed to quickly grow in value to its audience with content ranging from video, case studies, product insights, podcasts, and a forever evolving, audience directed experience. Personalization and limited advertising, ensure your experience will be the right one.

So much of commARCH’s content originates in video because that is our audiences’ preference.

From building tours, one-on-ones, deep-dives into communities, and establishing connections of meaning, commARCH’s video strategy is to establish itself over time as a significant asset in our audience’s approach to design.

Discussions with anyone who can benefit architects and owners/developers. The discovery of ideas, techniques and business information that enhances individual’s brands, informs design, and supports the creation of great built structures.

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S H O W C A S E

Transforming Students’ Lives Numerous building features promote sustainability and resiliency, including a new reflective roof, high R-Value insulation at the new building envelope and glazing that maximizes natural light. Mechanical improvements include a new electrical service located on the second floor for climate resilience, a new fire protection system, and 98% efficient boilers.

The school was designed to meet LEED Silver V4 for schools’ standards. The cafeteria accommodates the My Way Cafe school meals program, which provides students with fresh, healthy food options. The building features a multi-purpose space that may be utilized by the community.

“It’s incredible that our students are learning about American history and social studies with a view of the Bunker Hill Monument and the U.S.S. Constitution,” said Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael Loconto. “This beautiful new building will facilitate hands-on, collaborative learning experiences for our students and will undoubtedly serve as a model for future BPS construction projects.”

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“The opening of the new Upper School is a true testament to our community’s and the City of Boston’s belief in public education and commitment to the Eliot School’s expansion,” said Principal Walker Griffith. “Every day our students, families, and faculty enter a magical, state-of-the-art building where they engage in learning and experiences on their path to being change agents of the future.

“As the proud principal of the Eliot School, I am forever grateful for a community deeply rooted in the mission that a great education can transform students’ lives.”

Barry added that Finegold Alexander Architects was honored to be a part of the Eliot School project. “We are excited to continue working with the Eliot School, Boston Public Schools and the City for Boston to design innovative, joyful learning environments for Boston’s future leaders!”

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NanaWall® HSW systems’ single track sliding glass walls offer unlimited numbers of panels up to 12 feet tall, helping you develop striking architecture with wider, more sweeping views. Resistant to weather and commercial use, panels may be easily stacked remotely in parking bays or hidden closets.

Free your space at nanawall.com/hsw.

RS#3

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