New California courthouse a real Butte

by Erik Missio | August 27, 2015 11:47 am

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Chico, California’s picturesque buttes served as inspiration for the city’s new courthouse, complete with a cupola that pays tribute to the nearby rock formations.

Creating a comfortable space in the entry, though, required overcoming several challenges in the design of the 6265-m² (67,433-sf) building’s steel curtain wall system.

“People can look up from almost anywhere in the surrounding development and see the entry,” says Windom Kimsey, design principal and president of TSK Architects.

“Our challenge wasn’t just getting the geometry right—it was also to create a welcoming space that would accommodate people waiting for courthouse services. Heat is a factor in Chico, and we wanted people to be able to wait inside in a comfortable, light-filled setting.”

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The design team opted for a proprietary curtain wall that could accommodate the geometric shape of the entry, yet was also strong enough to support large free spans of glazing to flood the entry with daylight.

Comprising custom, laser-welded steel back mullions measuring 80 x 305 mm (3.13 x 12 in.), the steel system was able to support large lites of glass to ensure courthouse visitors receive ample daylight while waiting inside.

The steel frames also helped achieve the desired aesthetic, while custom-extruded aluminum U-shape face caps enabled the steel curtain wall to match the appearance of surrounding aluminum door and window assemblies. The crisp frame profiles complement the slender back mullions, providing building occupants with narrow sightlines and an open, modern entry.

“We wanted the curtain wall and cupola to taper in from all corners like the buttes,” Kimsey says. “However, it was important they do so without obtrusive frame profiles blocking daylight and detracting from the building’s modern aesthetic. This was especially critical in the cupola, where the angles are much tighter.”

Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/new-california-courthouse-a-real-butte/

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