Rowan University needed housing for its expanding student body, and quickly. The once modest New Jersey state teachers’ college suddenly had 18,000 students, including its graduate program, and had now gained university status. The collaboration led to the construction of a six-story residential building, which would anchor several planned surrounding structures. Between 2014 and 2018, seven buildings comprising more than 450,000 sq. ft. and 1500 wall panels were constructed in three phases. These were to be built by the team of StoPanel Technology, its affiliate, Jersey Panel Corp, and Nexus Properties, the developer and general contractor for the project. In addition to the tight sch

Ceiling Systems

Art Kit

Lending an enhanced level of design creativity to commercial ceiling systems, DESIGNFlex enables architects to mix and match different panel shapes, sizes, colors and textures. The array of shapes include triangles, parallelograms and trapezoids, in addition to squares and rectangles in made-to-order sizes. Transforming the decades old 2-ft. × 2-ft. module into a new world of options.

Case Study

Exterior Panels/Cladding

Panels Ensure Durability for Library Exterior

The city of Austin built a new central library to serve its citizens, and in designing the building, chose perforated anodized aluminum as a central façade design element. Opened to the public in October 2017, the new 200,000-sq.-ft. Austin Central Library makes full use of the functional and aesthetic benefits of the perforated anodized aluminum panels. Many panels provide shade for the building and its entrances, while one large panel incorporates literary quotations that are visible on the building’s floor as light shines through the metal, and all of the panels add to the overall building aesthetic.The library was designed by architects from Lake Flato Architects and Shepley Bulfin

Advances

Flooring

Tile the Town

An outdoor trend to come out of Cevisama was the variety of ceramic pavers that bring orderly and beautiful hardscapes to the landscape. The 2-cm thick pavers are lightweight and easily cut and installed onsite. In addition to 24-in. × 24-in. formats, Tile of Spain companies offer 16-in. × 32-in. and 24-in. × 48-in. plank-like pavers that may be cut down to form still slimmer 12- or 8-in. planks. Paver aesthetics include flagstone and cobblestone looks featuring softly weathered edges, cottos and French limestone looks.

Case Study

Flooring

Flooring Revolutionizes Chicago Apartments

Built upon the torn-down Gonnella Bakery, Spoke Apartments’ new construction brings 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space sandwiched between two towers of one-and-two-bedroom luxury apartments, townhouses and penthouse suites. Flooring provided the finishing touch. Gensler’s Chicago branch, working with architecture firm FitzGerald Assocs., designed the interior amenities and individual units at the Spoke Towers. Angela Harper, senior associate at Gensler, said that they conducted much research on cost, thickness, durability, sound properties and aesthetics from different luxury vinyl tile (LVT) products across the industry. A custom 5-mm thick Altro Lavencia LVT in the color Hampton Gr

Case Study

Exterior Panels/Cladding

Customization and Cost Savings

Metal wall panels save money and add interest at the University of Texas. The University of Texas at Tyler created plans to add a STEM and business building to its expanding campus to attract students from across the country. The original specification called for aluminum composite material (ACM) to match metal wall panels on the College of Pharmacy Building. However, the construction team was looking for an alternative to save money and speed up installation. Additionally, the design team was not willing to compromise on design, so they wanted a system which could expand their creative possibilities. The team was also looking for alternatives for the wood soffit. They needed something

AP ProductWire

May 27, 2020 by Jim Crockett

How Things Change Quickly…

AIA’s COTE Committee just announced it’s annual Top 10 projects. Among the winner’s was Gensler’s treatment of Etsy’s headquarters in Brooklyn—a project we highlighted in our annual observance of office trends in 2018. At the time, the project was striking for its “non-office” appearance, straight down to its hanging basket “egg” chair, greenery and other furniture that seemed a better fit for one’s patio, than office. Ironically, two years later, most of us are at home trying to add a little “office” to our residences, as we work remotely, and somewhat, in isolation, during COVID 19 shelter-in-place orders. Below are some products from the magazine from that period, which at the time, seemed a bit out of place, but now look very much part of most contemporary office designs. The obvious question to ask—and perhaps something we’ll revisit a year or two down the line—is what will the post-COVID office look like?

Advances

Decorative Glass

Versatile Glass Cladding

With its patented clip system, the TurnKey interior glass cladding system supports a quick install without adhesives or drilling. Available in a range of glass sizes, including hand-made art glass panels, options include back-painted, mirrored, etched, textured, decorative laminated, digitally printed and dry-erase glass marker boards. The versatility enables designers to quickly, easily and cost effectively revamp interiors.

Case Study

Glass & Curtainwall

The Campus Beacon

The University of North Dakota’s (UND) Robin Hall’s sleek, light-filled design features a curtainwall and storefront system to meet the structure’s modern aesthetic, sustainability goals and performance requirements. Opened last year as the tallest building in Grand Forks and the headquarters for the unmanned aircraft systems programs at UND’s nationally acclaimed John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, the $22-million, 72,000-sq.-ft. Robin Hall—designed by ICON Architectural Group—rises five stories and ascends into a 127-ft. glass and metal tower at the structure’s entrance. Brin Contract Glazing worked closely with ICON and Tubelite to accom

Advances

Green Roofs

Ultimate Assembly

Specifically engineered for rooftop terraces, vegetated roofs and plazas, American Hydrotech’s Ultimate Assembly begins at the substrate with Monolithic Membrane 6125, the original rubberized asphalt membrane that has been entrusted for more than 50 years with keeping high-profile structures watertight. The Ultimate Assembly carries through to the overburden of the architectural pavers, which offer high compressive strength and low moisture absorption. The pavers can be installed in an open joint assembly and are supported at the four corners on spacer tabs or on fixed-height or adjustable pedestals. The pavers are available in a wide variety of colors and finishes.

Architectural Products

University Student Housing Gets Needed Facelift

Read the Digital Edition

May/Jun ’20

Art Kit

Panels Ensure Durability for Library Exterior

Tile the Town

Flooring Revolutionizes Chicago Apartments

Customization and Cost Savings

AP ProductWire

How Things Change Quickly…

Versatile Glass Cladding

The Campus Beacon

Ultimate Assembly