The iconic 12-story building features 460,000 SF of office space, 30,000 SF of ground floor retail, 3 floors of below-grade parking, and a soaring atrium ceiling stretching 11 stories high. The interior design of the building transforms into a waving forest with warm wood-tone mullions throughout the entrance lobby, bringing in the warmth and texture of the trees and the curvilinear beam baffles of the atrium ceiling resembling a canopy of overhead branches.
The manufacturer was specified as the basis-of-design on this prestigious project through the ‘performance specification’ process, where the manufacturer worked closely with the contractor and architect during the pre-construction phase to develop engineered solutions for the wood-look baffles in the atrium’s skylight.
Over 350 baffles totaling up to 3,350 LFT were manufactured in both straight and curved profiles. Each baffle, measuring 24 inches tall, was a combination of 3 components attached together to form the specified profile. The top and bottom profiles were scribed metal plates cut to specified shapes and lengths. The center profile comprised a 1/8-inch thick aluminum metal panel, factory perforated and curved prior to securely attaching to the top and bottom plates using bolts and welds. A total of 1,056 profile lengths ranging from 8 to 12 feet were assembled together to make a unique ripple pattern below the atrium skylight.
The color of the baffles was meticulously selected to closely match the hue of the wood for a seamless transition with other wood finishes throughout the building. The assembled baffles were factory-finished in AAMA 2605 powder coating finishes, providing superior performance for UV resistance and an extensive 10-year finish warranty.
Exceptional emphasis was placed on the seamless design transitions between baffle profiles spanning over 200 feet long. To present a more cohesive transition between baffles, custom splice profiles were factory-assembled, nesting at the intersections. Likewise, baffle size, weight, and attachments were factors which necessitated strict engineering and testing, resulting in the complete elimination of deflection.
To further assure quality fabrication, the manufacturer assumed additional responsibility and assembled the curved baffles over floor templates to maintain extremely tight tolerances in a way that provided the installing contractor great success in achieving a seamless installation.
Job site challenges were faced with the installation of baffles in the 200-foot-high atrium, requiring scaffolding dropped from the atrium trusses down—a practical solution compared to building from floor up considering extremely high ceilings. Field templates were provided to locate suspension points and layout for the curved baffles. The installing contractor assembled the individual lengths with utmost precision to create a seamless wood-beam look.
The end result is a magnificent atrium ceiling that evokes a grand and welcoming ambiance in the entrance lobby. The unique thought process of the design, innovative engineering, and construction of this beautiful project make it highly worthy of consideration for receiving a 2023 CISCA Construction Excellence Award.
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