Innovative thin stone averts building demolition

CHALLENGE

In 2009, the City of Columbus constructed a new Fire Training Center ($8.57 million), including the practical skills building - a 2-story, 26,000 square foot structure complete with six extra-large bays. Unfortunately, this building was suffering catastrophic water damage early into its life.

The City budgeted for demolition and replacement. 

INFLUENCE  

The City sought out an option to full demolition and rebuilding. Step in, Mr. Kay Onwukwe, VP and Director of Design and Planning at HKI Associates Inc., who proposed waterproofing and a new masonry rainscreen solution. Working with IMI's Tom Elliott, Mr. Onwukwe specified a high performance, calcium silicate thin stone to reclad the building.

An overall aesthetic boost would also assuage the disappointment of the original building’s failure.

SOLUTION 

The design team specified ARRIS-clip calcium silicate thin stone, which is an ideal restoration or refurbishment system: this innovative product installs overtop of existing substrates and provides complete rainscreen protection. Only 1-3/8" thick, ARRIS-clip tiles are clipped into a steel channel system. In this case, the channels or railings were installed directly onto the existing concrete block walls.

This versatile system also makes it simple to create distinct patterns by intermingling different unit colors and textures, as HKI Associates did for this project. Part of Arriscraft's Renaissance product line, ARRIS-clip is available in a wide range of standard colors and in a variety of finishes or profiles.

Designers chose a blend of three colors, including red tones to accentuate the red doors and windows. Click here for more.