Landscape Architect & Specifier News

FEB 2015

LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.

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100 Landscape Architect and Specifier News (Continued on page 102) 801 Grand Plaza (Continued from page 98) 100 Landscape Architect and Specifier News The masonry contractor, Seedorff Masonry, created a detailed inventory of all existing wall cladding and caps before the existing plaza walls were removed. The design team worked closely with the masonry contractor and the granite supplier to develop a plan to reuse the Baltic brown cladding in a thoughtful layout that accounted for the slight variations in coloration between the new and original cladding. "Close coordination with our suppliers was needed to document where the pieces of Baltic brown from the building's cladding and the original site wall came from in order for the granite to be reused," explained Abby Rodewald, landscape architect-in-training with Confluence. "The same level of coordination on shop drawings ensured that new grades and cladding matched those that were being reused." Inventorying the granite for reuse was critical on the front end of the project. Cladding was removed from the building façade, site walls to remain and site walls to be demolished. Some of the cladding was to be returned to its original location, but adjacent paving was being reworked. In most cases, the size of the granite didn't allow for much variation between existing and proposed grades. Typically, the reused granite only extended an inch or two below the existing grade. "We also needed to carefully consider how and where to reuse salvaged granite so that we could reuse the most granite possible, while being strategic so the variations between new and old granite looked intentional and thoughtful," said Boetger. "For example, the existing north wall that runs all along High Street was extended on both the east and west ends." To make the new extensions appear as though they were part of the original construction, Confluence reused salvaged panels. These are some of the tallest panels on site, so only a few of the salvaged panels were large enough to work in these locations. Along the same wall, Confluence made the existing columns deeper to accommodate new planter bowls. Baltic brown was chosen for the 44 large planter bowls that sit atop granite pedestals accentuating the architectural grid. above: The plaza redesign created a more open pedestrian space, with ample seating areas. The openness of the space invites tenants of neighboring buildings as well as passersby to sit and enjoy the space. pHoTo CRediT: eLizABeTH CARRie right: Creating an inviting plaza was a primary design goal for Confluence. Before the redesign, the existing plaza space felt tired and disconnected from adjacent pedestrian areas. The large stair at the south end of the plaza was eliminated in the redesign in favor of a central staircase and a tiered design that allowed for the elimination of most of the railings, which, due to the brass accents required labor-intensive maintenance. pHoTo CRediTS: ConfLuenCe Before After

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