The translation between design/drawings to the built work always amazes me. Sometimes that translation exceeds expectations and then there are those other times. The times when you visit the job site and say to yourself, "what the hell is this?"
I had one of those moments yesterday on the job site. I had designed a detail where the interior steel frame was to appear to support the secondary frame that generates the cantilevered canopy - one steel section directly on top of the other. The canopy steel is supported by a series of vertical columns, but it was to look like one steel section was resting on the other. Well, when setting the steel they were off by about 4 inches, resulting in a gap between the two. this they decided to patch with soffit material - problem fixed right? - No way! It looks like a racing stripe giving a halo to the entry. We decided to paint the stripe to match the steel and hopefully it will blend in.
In contrast, seeing the corten steel panels going on the building is pretty exciting. They are beginning to have a nice patina and should add a sense the passage of time to the building. The window frames turned out realy nice too; I only wish that they protruded a little more from the facade.
The other day I decided to write a little about this project for my portfolio. Here is what I had to say.
OlsenBeal Company is a steel fabrication and wind generation shop; specializing in bridge construction and wind turbines.
The concept for their addition came from a desire to express what kind of work OlsenBeal is engaged in and the materials that they work with on a daily basis. With this in mind, I wanted to use as much reclaimed material from their steel yard as possible; not only for the structure but for the aesthetic treatments as well. What began to emerge was a coming together of elements that not only expressed their materiality in the truest sense, but allowed the building to be a instrument of education and everyday performance. New and old materials are used to give a sense of permanence as well as demonstrate the transformational qualities of materials over time. Heavy, rusticated brick allows the building to be grounded while the corrugated metal reaches skyward. A corten monolith intersects all the other materials and is a demonstration of the timelessness and realities of building; being allowed to rusticate and age over time.
The structure allows for an interesting interaction with those who visit and work within the spaces. By removing the corner of the building and allowing visual access to the interior, not only can outdoor activity be monitored but a strong sense of entry and procession occurs. This is only accentuated by the suspended steel canopy that seems to stretch horizontally into the landscape. The strong, round steel column that marks the entrance not only stands as a placemaker/spacemaker but is an “axis mundi”; an element that connects earth to sky and sets the building in order.
I had one of those moments yesterday on the job site. I had designed a detail where the interior steel frame was to appear to support the secondary frame that generates the cantilevered canopy - one steel section directly on top of the other. The canopy steel is supported by a series of vertical columns, but it was to look like one steel section was resting on the other. Well, when setting the steel they were off by about 4 inches, resulting in a gap between the two. this they decided to patch with soffit material - problem fixed right? - No way! It looks like a racing stripe giving a halo to the entry. We decided to paint the stripe to match the steel and hopefully it will blend in.
In contrast, seeing the corten steel panels going on the building is pretty exciting. They are beginning to have a nice patina and should add a sense the passage of time to the building. The window frames turned out realy nice too; I only wish that they protruded a little more from the facade.
The other day I decided to write a little about this project for my portfolio. Here is what I had to say.
OlsenBeal Company is a steel fabrication and wind generation shop; specializing in bridge construction and wind turbines.
The concept for their addition came from a desire to express what kind of work OlsenBeal is engaged in and the materials that they work with on a daily basis. With this in mind, I wanted to use as much reclaimed material from their steel yard as possible; not only for the structure but for the aesthetic treatments as well. What began to emerge was a coming together of elements that not only expressed their materiality in the truest sense, but allowed the building to be a instrument of education and everyday performance. New and old materials are used to give a sense of permanence as well as demonstrate the transformational qualities of materials over time. Heavy, rusticated brick allows the building to be grounded while the corrugated metal reaches skyward. A corten monolith intersects all the other materials and is a demonstration of the timelessness and realities of building; being allowed to rusticate and age over time.
The structure allows for an interesting interaction with those who visit and work within the spaces. By removing the corner of the building and allowing visual access to the interior, not only can outdoor activity be monitored but a strong sense of entry and procession occurs. This is only accentuated by the suspended steel canopy that seems to stretch horizontally into the landscape. The strong, round steel column that marks the entrance not only stands as a placemaker/spacemaker but is an “axis mundi”; an element that connects earth to sky and sets the building in order.
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