Beecher Walker Architects wanted more than just a standard “office box” for its Thanksgiving Station Office Park project. The development, located in the budding technology hub referred to as Silicon Slopes, had a clear vision: incorporating the crisp lines of modern architecture with the warm and inviting patterns of timber. The challenging Utah climate made traditional material choices impractical, but the design was key for Jory Walker, Principal, President and Lead Designer. “Let’s face it, when many think of Utah, they think cold, but the wooded beauty and mountain ranges of the Salt Lake Valley are stunning so why not take a modern interpretation of that using glass, wood and structural height?”
Walker, who is both a sculptor and architect by training, sought to break the mold of traditional office spaces which are often designed in box shapes for the practical reasons of simplified construction and cost. “When you have all these young, progressive, cutting-edge companies pushing the boundaries every day, the buildings that house them need to be just as progressive and out-of-the box,” said Walker. The goal became to push the design envelope while maintiaining these considerations at the forefront. Walker proceeded to “sculpt” his vision in the fall of 2014 and completed construction in April 2016.
Photography by Corey Middleton and courtesy of Beecher Walker.
ALPOLIC offers solutions for challenging environmental conditions.
In the end, the building’s cladding proved to be the biggest challenge. The inspiration, a Scandinavian wood rainscreen system, was both cost prohibitive and would have resulted in weatherproofing concerns in the harsh climate. The design team researched various alternatives before settling on ALPOLIC Metal Composite Materials (MCM). This lightweight, affordable building material provided the look of real wood without the cost and maintenance concerns. Walker was also impressed with the functional advantages of fabricating MCM. “The panels can be formed into any shape we felt best fit the design of the building while still bringing in the look of wood.”
Photography by Corey Middleton and courtesy of Beecher Walker
The Thanksgiving Station project started as a modern interpretation of the stunning Utah landscape while providing all the advantages of a developing metropolitan area. Twenty-five miles south of downtown Salt Lake City, the project is located at the center of Silicon Slopes in Lehi, UT. Once rural, growth in the technology center has created a vibrant community nestled with views of the Wasatch mountain range. The final design speaks to both the area’s natural beauty and spirit of innovation. “It’s easy to create something spectacular when you have a large budget, but in this climate of spec office buildings (which this was when we started it), it’s hard to create ‘wow’ and make it pencil at the same time,” said Walker. The innovative design caught immediate attention and the project became an iconic symbol of Silicon Slopes. “It is exciting to create something that gets so much buzz, introducing a newlook and feel in the valley. It broke the mold and ushered in a new way of thinking in the design community in Utah.”
Quality composite materials make the difference.
For Beecher Walker Architects, premium ALPOLIC MCM made the design come alive, allowing them to stay in budget without sacrificing design intent. Other materials that were in consideration, such as wood or solid metal planks and stone veneers, would have increased cost, limited design and burdened the building owner with maintenance. “We have used ALPOLIC on many buildings and feel that it is a premium product that has allowed us to better design our facades in ways that other materials couldn’t. We are always finding new ways or architectural designs using ALPOLIC. Nearly every commercial building that we have in design at this point will likely have ALPOLIC specified in some way.”
ALPOLIC
1.800.422.7270
info@alpolic.com
www.alpolic-americas.com
Related Stories
| Feb 19, 2014
AIA class: The ABCs of IMPs – How to design and build with insulated metal panels
This AIA/CES class offers insight in areas including policies and codes surrounding insulated metal panels, contributions from LEED and tax credits, energy modeling, and business development opportunities available with IMPs. Take this course and earn 1.0 AIA LU/HSW/SD.
| Feb 13, 2014
Why you should start with a builder
They say the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Expanding your building or constructing a new structure for your business, church, or school isn’t all that different. Attacking it is best done in small, deliberate pieces.
| Feb 6, 2014
New Hampshire metal building awes visitors
Visitors to the Keene Family YMCA in New Hampshire are often surprised by what they encounter. Liz Coppola calls it the “wow factor.” “Literally, there’s jaw dropping,” says Coppola, director of financial and program development for the Keene Family YMCA.
| Feb 5, 2014
CENTRIA Redefines Coating System with Versacor® Elite
The Versacor Elite Coating System is a premium metal coating system that provides the highest level of protection in the harshest climatic or environmental conditions.
| Jan 30, 2014
What to expect in the metal building industry in 2014
Every year brings changes. This one won’t be any different. We’ll see growth in some areas, declines in others. Here’s a little preview of what we’ll be writing about 2014 when 2015 comes rolling in.
| Jan 28, 2014
White Paper: How metal buildings deliver long-term value to schools
A new white paper from Star Building Systems outlines the benefits of metal buildings for public and private school building projects.
| Jan 23, 2014
Think you can recognize a metal building from the outside?
What looks like brick, stucco or wood on the outside could actually be a metal building. Metal is no longer easily detectable. It’s gotten sneakier visually. And a great example of that is the Madison Square retail center in Norman, Okla.
| Jan 13, 2014
Custom exterior fabricator A. Zahner unveils free façade design software for architects
The web-based tool uses the company's factory floor like "a massive rapid prototype machine,” allowing designers to manipulate designs on the fly based on cost and other factors, according to CEO/President Bill Zahner.
| Dec 16, 2013
Is the metal building industry in a technology shift?
Automation is the future you can’t avoid, though you may try. Even within the metal building industry—which is made up of skilled tradesmen—automation has revolutionized, and will continue revolutionizing, how we work.
| Dec 10, 2013
16 great solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors
From a crowd-funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restrooms, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem-solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.
