Architect Daniel Kornberg explores and expands metal envelope systems
Originally imagining himself in a career as a National Geographic photographer, architect Daniel Kornberg, RA, LEED AP, discovered his architecture calling while studying in Florence, Italy. Since then, he has learned metal’s power as an architectural building component, optimizing its many expressive possibilities.
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Kornberg received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin. During graduate school, he interned with Francesco Siravo in Mombasa, Kenya. His first architecture jobs were with Houston-based firms: Ambrose & McEnany Architects, Ray Bailey Architects and Brand+Allen. “While all three firms inclined toward modern design, metal was not a major material on the projects I was assigned to,” he says. “My first use of a metal building envelope was on a house I designed shortly after starting my own practice. That building featured brick masonry, standing seam copper wall panels and a standing seam metal roof.”
Award-wining firm
Kornberg has been practicing architecture since 1990. Since that time he has been a designer, project architect, and now principal with HarrisonKornberg Architects, the firm he started with James B. Harrison III in 2003. It’s a young, energetic, award-winning architectural firm located in Houston.
As director of design, he oversees each project’s development and leads project teams through the design phases and into construction. He remains involved from initial client meetings through closeout to ensure quality control at every stage. He has been responsible for design and delivery of some of the firm’s most complex projects for markets including health care, higher education, K-12, religious assembly, retail and office buildings. He also serves as the firm’s sustainability advisor and has applied the LEED certification process on multiple projects.
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“We are committed to design excellence, and are passionate about creating beautiful, innovative, healthy environments that respond to their context and enrich daily life,” Kornberg says. “Because each client’s project is unique, we deliver unique solutions. We are interested in discovering the formal possibilities inherent in the project’s brief and context, and strive to honestly express materials and systems. We work hard to create sustainable buildings, and our projects have earned LEED certifications. Our work has recently garnered the Design Award of Honor from the Society of American Registered Architects, and the Heritage Award from the Urban Land Institute Houston Chapter. Our projects have been published in Texas Architect and Cite, and have been featured on local tours.”
HarrisonKornberg Architects’ projects cover a broad range of project types and sizes, from single-family residences, to large-scale institutional buildings. The firm’s client base includes Texas A&M University, Lone Star College, Rice University, Houston Independent School District (ISD), Beaumont ISD, Port Arthur ISD and the city of Houston.
Metal’s expressive possibilities
Many of HarrisonKornberg’s building designs employ metal enclosure systems. These systems include a wide range of types and technologies, from hand-crafted standing seam copper wall panels to standard rolled steel profiles, to aluminum composite panels and even custom, factory-made rainscreens. All of these achieve different statements for different clients.
“We have used metal enclosures on projects large and small, and capitalize on metal’s light weight and energy efficiency to create distinctive and cost-effective building designs,” Kornberg says.”We often use metal panels in combination with stone, brick or concrete, to play up the contrast between the massive masonry and the lightweight, taut metal skin. Metal envelope systems can also free up planning and massing, allowing overhanging and cantilever situations to be clad in lightweight materials.”
Kornberg likes the fact that companies are always introducing interesting new metal systems, profiles and finishes, so there are new opportunities for his firm to improve building performance and to explore new expressive possibilities.
Working as a Texas architect has influenced Kornberg’s use of metal. To deal with Texas’ heat, “Metal offers very good opportunities to design vented envelope systems that are highly efficient thermally,” he says. “On smaller projects, a reflective standing seam metal roof can provide a first line of radiant barrier in our hot Texas climate. Houston has a pretty long history of architects using metal envelope systems, especially in what were then unconventional ways. So, I’ve been very influenced by the architectural ideas that are ‘native’ to Houston.”
Client success
HarrisonKornberg’s clients are constructing buildings to achieve their personal, corporate or institutional goals. It’s critical for the firm to actively engage with the owners and other stakeholders to fully understand the large number of requirements that must be fulfilled so their buildings function as needed.
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“Our clients are relying on us to synthesize all this information into a coherent structure that makes their work possible and enriches their lives in the building,” Kornberg says. “Not unexpectedly, communication-verbal and graphic-is critical in the design process. Sketches, renderings, models, meeting minutes are all extremely important to bridge the gaps between us. One telling incident sticks with me. Construction of a project was winding down and the owner, a brilliant scientist and administrator called to tell me that despite all the drawings and renderings we had done, he had not been able to really visualize the main public space until it was constructed. Thankfully, he was calling to say how much he liked the space!”
One project of interest that Kornberg is particularly proud of is the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing at Texas A&M University. “On that project we used several different metal envelope systems to express different functional components of the building. The entire team-including our colleagues at San Diego-based Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects-came together to create a great building in which exciting, cutting-edge research and education take place.” The building has been recognized by the Society of American Registered Architects. With Kornberg’s talent and successful use of metal, anticipate more recognition and awards to come his way.
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Arch Connect
What’s on your iPod while you work?
I find I am unable to work with music playing in my ears, so I don’t use an iPod at the office. Also, I spend much of my time working with staff and clients-not the best opportunity to listen to music.
What do you do on weekends?
My wife, daughters and I are pretty busy during the week. The weekends offer at least some un-programmed time that we can hang out together. If I’m lucky, I might also get to the driving range to hit some golf balls.
What is your favorite book?
Identifying a single favorite is too hard. I’ve recently read the two Hillary Mantel historical novels, “Wolf Hall” and “Bringing Up the Bodies,” which I thought were excellent. I’m a few chapters into Rose George’s book about sanitation, “The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters.”
Where is your favorite place to vacation?
Naming just one is too difficult. We recently had the opportunity to visit the Galapagos with a large part of our family; that was an amazing vacation. We’ve been to New York this summer, which is always fun and eyeopening for an architect. We usually spend a week around New Year’s at my in-laws’ country home in Virginia. Lots of family and friends-mostly cooking and eating!
What historical figure would you most like to have dinner with and why?
I think it would be pretty interesting to show Leonardo Da Vinci some of the cool things that have been invented this past century. We’d need more than just a dinner.
To future architects, what advice would you give?
Get proficient at sketching. Sketching is an invaluable tool for communicating with your colleagues and clients, and for generating and exploring ideas. There’s nothing more immediate than the brain-eye-hand connection.