Visitors to Kean University in Union, N.J., are met with a bold architectural statement when they enter the campus’ west entrance. Designed by the Gruskin Group, Springfield, N.J., the 102,275-square-foot Green Lane Academic building features a geometric glass-and-aluminum façade that includes a six-story sloping glass radius curtainwall on the northeast elevation and a five-story radius curtainwall on the south side. Both curtainwalls are accented with sunshades.
Opened in January 2014, the Green Lane Academic Building is home to the new Michael Graves School of Architecture and Robert Busch School of Design, as well as the university’s expanding business program. A public Barnes & Noble bookstore and café with outside seating reinforces the school’s connection with the surrounding community.
The project began in July 2012 with the general contractor’s team at Dobco Inc., Wayne, N.J., working closely with the subcontractors and manufacturers, to achieve the desired design. “This is by far the most unique project I have worked on from a design and constructability standpoint,” says Gary Snee, project manager at Dobco. “The radius and sloping curtainwall made it a challenge.”
Graham Architectural Products-Curtain Wall Solutions, Merrill, Wis., fabricated and glazed the unitized curtainwall, pressure wall, aluminum sunshades, storefronts, entrances and tilted ellipse glass handrails for the project. Union County Plate Glass Co. Inc., Elizabeth, N.J., installed the glazing products, while Mequon, Wis.-based Super Sky Products Enterprises LLC manufactured and installed the project’s skylight system. Wausau, Wis.-based Linetec finished all of the aluminum framing in a silver color using Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries Inc.‘s 70 percent PVDF Duranar XL and Duranar Sunstorm.
Graham’s manufacturing team says the project includes several flat vertical walls, a segmented radius, a 56-degree outside corner, parapets, soffits and a tilted ellipse feature wall. Unlike a traditional inverted radius wall with a slope, the intent of the tilted ellipse was to keep the radius constant, with the center of the radius projecting out 4 1/2 feet at every floor moving up the building. According to Nick Irwin, products sales representative at Graham, it was all very complicated. He describes it as a glass ice cream cone on the side of an undulating building.
The building’s south side showcases a monumental staircase with bench seating and glass rails. Meanwhile, the sixth floors has a 1,200-square-foot circular meeting room with 18-foot-high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a 4,500-square-foot roof terrace with a view of the Manhattan skyline. The building’s glazing systems offer large window views and daylight, and nearly 6,000 square feet of sunshades help keep occupants comfortable while lowering energy use by managing unwanted solar heat gain and glare.
“Kean University is a well-received customer,” notes Eric Dahm, project manager at Super Sky. “Green Lane Building is the first of two projects Super Sky has worked on. Each skylight has a unique geometry that creates a challenging project. Linetec is our finisher of choice on all of our projects.”
“It’s always exciting when we can contribute to such a high-profile example as Keane University’s Green Lane Building,” says Tammy Schroeder, senior marketing specialist at Linetec. “The complex elegance of this building, and the schools of architecture and design within it, stand as a suitable tribute honoring architect Michael Graves. Linetec is proud to play a part in creating the beautiful, well-designed glazing systems of this dramatic exterior and in providing the high-performance finishes that help ensure a unique, lasting impression for all who visit the campus.”
Green Lane Academic Building, Kean University, Union, N.J.
Award: AIA Newark and Suburban Architects Gold Award
Architect: Gruskin Group, Springfield, N.J.
General contractor: Dobco Inc., Wayne, N.J.
Finisher: Linetec, Wausau, Wis.
Glazing/glass fabricator: J.E. Berkowitz LP, Pedricktown, N.J.
Glazing installer: Union County Plate Glass Co. Inc., Elizabeth, N.J.
Glazing manufacturer: Graham Architectural Products-Curtain Wall Solutions, Merrill, Wis., www.grahamwindows.com
Glass/coatings: PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, www.ppgideascapes.com
Skylight: Super Sky Products Enterprises LLC, Mequon, Wis., www.supersky.com
Photos: Courtesy of Graham Architectural Products