Located in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Ricardo Court Industrial is an eight building complex, totaling 33,500 square feet (3,112 m2). The site consists of seven separate small parcels, varying in size.
The design goal was to create a flexible, low maintenance, light industrial complex that could be functional for a wide variety of possible tenants. The design challenge was complicated by the small size of the parcels and the creek that runs along the edge of the project, which required special attention to avoid building interference.
The design concept was to create a theme that recalled historic factory aesthetics in a modern form. The overall complex was envisioned to work together and appear as one project, with multiple buildings. The buildings were grouped together to give the appearance of four larger structures.
The materials included split face and precision concrete block, exterior plaster and metal siding (over concrete block). Vertical fins were employed to recall the historic factory forms and serve as a functional component to house electrical and fire sprinkler equipment. McElroy Metal’s Mega- Rib 24-gauge Kynar 500 Brite Red added a visual contrast to both the smooth and split face masonry, while relating back to former industrial building materials. Steven D Pults, AIA & Associates LLP, San Luis Obispo, Calif., was the architect. Quaglino Properties, San Luis Obispo, was the owner and builder, and Quaglino Roofing, San Luis Obispo, was the installer.
McElroy Metal, www.mcelroymetal.com
