The Guardian Reborn

by Jonathan McGaha | December 1, 2013 12:00 am

Beginning in 1993 with the passage of the very successful Metropolitan Area Projects program (MAPs), Oklahoma City is renewing itself as never before. While the initial one-cent sales tax for redevelopment has long since been “sunsetted,” the city continues to revive itself through additional public programs and wide-spread private redevelopment.

 

Many of the buildings that were built during OKC’s original “hey-day” are being revitalized adding to the new vibrancy that the city is experiencing during the last 20 years. The Guardian Building is just such a repurposed structure. Built in 1922, this former auto dealership on North Robinson Ave. is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure to the area known as the Automobile Alley Historic District. The building had been in disuse since the early 1960s and was being used only for storage for some time before being vacated. In 2011, the owners undertook to make it new again.

 

With the vision of Oklahoma City-based companies, Fitzsimmons Architects[1] and Lingo Construction Services[2], as part of a three-phase program in the Midtown District of downtown Oklahoma City, the 90-year-old, 40,000-square-foot historic Guardian Building warehouse was a renovation and adaptive reuse project. It provides 37 apartments and a ground-level restaurant with shared entries onto the adjacent public plaza that was converted from a former rundown alley. The units provide tenants with true, industrial loft-style living and flexible floor plans. Further, Guardian Parking was built and provides much needed parking for tenants. This facility also utilizes expanded metal for security and screening. The entire project was completed in January 2013.

 

The original building design itself is unique, with large casement windows fully restored with insulated glass providing some of the most expansive views available of downtown Oklahoma City. The exterior features of gothic/art deco hybrid detailing was used as inspiration for the expanded metal panels’ stepped configuration within the stairwells and common spaces. Brian Fitzsimmons, architect, wanted to utilize the space’s openness while creating flexible living areas. He also wanted to maintain the “industrial” look that reflected the building’s former life. Using the existing brick walls and exposed beams enabled this and the use of expanded metals for dividers, screens, and facades also added to this effect. As Kenneth Warner, project manager for Lingo said, “Expanded metal lets the light shine through and really opens up the spaces.”

 

Lingo Construction Services have used expanded metal for other, similar revitalization projects. Warner adds that he feels very comfortable with the material and states that “It is easy to work with.”

 

Oklahoma City-based Expanded Solutions LLC produced the 1/2-inch #13 carbon steel and powder coated it red (RAL 3001) for the complete project. For the sunscreen and security mesh in the parking garage and the sign panels, the red expanded metal was framed in matte black. For the interior, the same pattern and effects were used. Because the architect wanted flexible living areas, it was important to have light penetrate areas fully. This is one of the principal benefits of expanded metal, which is produced by simultaneously slitting and stretching uniform openings in sheet metal. Any malleable metal can be expanded and Expanded Solutions produces carbon steel, aluminum, copper and other red metals, stainless steel, zinc and precious metals.

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Deborah Warren is the technical sales manager of Expanded Solutions LLC[3], which has been producing quality expanded metals since 1964. Based in Oklahoma City, Expanded Solutions supplies North America with a complete range of industrial products in all sizes in steel and aluminum, specialty architectural patterns, and produces micro mesh products from precious metals as well.

EMMA is a division of the Chicago-area based trade association, the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers[4] (NAAMM). The member companies of EMMA are Alabama Metal Industries Corp.[5], Birmingham, Ala.; Exmet Industries Inc.[6], Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Expanded Solutions LLC, Oklahoma City; Fisher & Ludlow[7], Burlington, Ontario, Canada; New Metals Inc.[8], San Antonio; and Spantek Expanded Metal[9], Hopkins, Minn. To learn more about EMMA and its members visit www.emma-assoc.org[10].

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/the-guardian-reborn/

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