Black stone with a diamond finish was used for wall cladding, copings, and stair treads.
“We didn’t want a monolithic feel for the site detailing what you might find at a courthouse or monument. Rather, we opted to detail the walls and steps in a way that would bring together multiple materials, such as stainless-steel risers with granite treads, and granite wall veneers combined with stainless steel and Ipe wood seat decking. All were intended to capture that yacht level of craftsmanship,” says Craig Vickers, principal, Civitas Inc.
The result was a finely crafted office building for businesses in downtown Denver.
Temple University Library
Located in Philadelphia at Temple University, Charles Library is one of the country’s most modern and significant new library constructions in recent history. Its design demonstrates the creative possibilities with granite and rainscreen systems and fulfills the architect’s intent to spur imagination and inspire excellence.
Key to the building’s striking design is more than 3,437 m2 (37,000 sf) of black granite, specified for exterior cladding, windowsills, soffits, coping, and a green roof wall facade.
Vertical sections of the granite in a split-face finish clad the library’s solid base and coordinate with the existing landscape of the campus. More than 2,787 m2 (30,000 sf) of granite pieces—each featuring rustications or reveals—were successfully produced with manufacturing skill and quality.
The stone’s installation on a sealant-less, caulk-less rainscreen system leaves space for water drainage and evaporation, preventing water from penetrating the facility’s interior while lowering the risk of wall rot.
