A composite geometric screen highlights new art museum
A composite geometric screen drapes the bright glass and white metal exterior on two sides of the new $45 million Aspen Art Museum in Aspen, Colo. Designed by Shigeru Ban and his New York-based practice, Shigeru Ban Architects + Dean Maltz Architect
(SBA) along with executive architects, Cottle Carr Yaw Architects (CCY), Basalt, Colo., the 33,000-square-foot museum was completed in August 2014. The four-story museum features 17,500 square feet of exhibition space, with more than 12,500 square feet of dedicated interior gallery space, more than tripling the space of the former facility.
On two sides of the building, the Prodema screen, a synthesis of paper and resin veneered with wood, shades the direct light of the large openings. Additionally, to illuminate the museum’s grand staircase, corridor, main street entry and four of the six gallery spaces, natural light is maximized from all elevations.
“The museum’s lattice screen, bright white finishes and vast amounts of glass create a beautifully intricate play of light and shadow throughout the building,” says Tammy Schroeder, LEED Green Associate, senior marketing specialist at Linetec, Wausau, Wis. “It’s a truly beautiful structure and a very environmentally sound project as well.”
Rob Seils, Linetec sales manager, says SBA was very specific about their design vision and its color selections. “They wanted the finish to be uniform and consistent from one building material to the next,” he explains.
Linetec finished the aluminum-framed curtainwall, windows, sliding door and skylight systems in Pure White. To provide a consistent appearance across multiple products and manufacturers, Linetec used Minneapolis-based Valspar Corp.‘s Fluropon to match and blend the 70 percent PVDF coating in-house.
The museum’s 12,000-square-foot, custom-built curtainwall system from EFCO Corp., Monett, Mo., features Wausau Window and Wall Systems‘ operable windows and triple-insulated glass units (IGUs) from Viracon Inc., Owatonna, Minn., further manages ultraviolet (UV) and solar heat gain.
Glazing contractor Harmon Inc., Minneapolis, installed the curtainwall system, and was responsible for the museum’s structural glass floor skylights from Super Sky Products Enterprises LLC, Mequon, Wis. Harmon’s senior project manager. Harmon installed the skylights, which include a 36 1/2-foot square, triangular single-pitch unit with a diagonal framing pattern, and an L-shaped single-pitch unit stretching 5 feet wide by 44 feet long on each leg. Viracon supplied low-iron, fritted glass for both units. The skylights have very shallow slopes of 1.14 and 3 degrees to meet the maximum height elevations established by the design team. “The project is like no other; the enclosure systems we installed are technically custom and specific to the design intent,” says Jason Nimmo.
Combined with photovoltaic panels, the strategic placement of skylights minimizes the use of electricity. The architectural team describes the museum as a “thermos” design, where the most energy-demanding spaces are placed at the center of the building, surrounded by circulation space. The double-layered building envelope maintains proper humidity levels in the galleries without expending unnecessary energy and costs to adjust the levels elsewhere. Additionally, the Pure White finish of the curtainwall, window and entrance systems reflects solar radiation, further contributing to the museum’s overall energy savings.
“Although the exterior views of the enclosure systems are masked by the custom, woven panel screen wall system, the views from the interior are definitely appealing,” Nimmo adds. “The AAM building is truly an architectural icon.”
Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, Colo.
Awards: Merit Award for Built Architecture from AIA Colorado, and Honor Award for Distinguished Building from AIA Western Mountain Region
Design architect: Shigeru Ban Architects + Dean Maltz Architect, New York City
Executive architect: Cottle Carr Yaw Architects Ltd., Basalt, Colo.
General contractor: Turner Construction Co., Denver
Construction manager: Summit Construction Co., Basalt
Glazing contractor: Harmon Inc., Minneapolis
Curtainwall, window, sliding door and skylight finisher: Linetec, Wausau, Wis.
Curtainwall, window, sliding door and skylight finish: Valspar Corp., Minneapolis, www.valsparcoilextrusion.com
Exterior curtainwall fabricator: Architectural Aluminum Fabrication Inc., Aurora, Colo., (720) 532-0793
Exterior curtainwall: EFCO Corp., Monett, Mo., www.efcocorp.com
Exterior curtainwall, window and skylight glass fabricator: Viracon Inc., Owatonna, Minn., www.viracon.com
Skylights: Super Sky Products Enterprises LLC, Mequon, Wis., www.supersky.com
Windows: Wausau Window and Wall Systems, Wausau, www.wausauwindow.com