Atrium Sleeve
PROJECT: ATRIUM SLEEVE, WASHINGTON, DC
ARCHITECT: SHoP ARCHITECTS
INTERIOR DESIGN: K&CO, PLISKIN ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: RAND CONSTRUCTION
AWARDS: INTERIOR DESIGN BEST OF YEAR 2020, FINANCE/LAW OFFICE
PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID MITCHELL
BUILT BY EVENTSCAPE, NOVEMBER, 2018
One of the first challenges of this project was how to maintain perfect alignment while engineering sufficient tight tolerances at this scale. During the initial design discussions, Eventscape hosted the interior design firm as well as the architects to view a full-sized mockup. This was used not only to finalize the metal finish but also to confirm that all the materials adjacent to the sleeve fit perfectly. Understanding the entire project and design intent meant that the team at Eventscape could suggest appropriate options. During this design planning stage, Eventscape’s team engineered a solution to ensure the sleeve was able to move and be installed independently of the base building.
Some of the custom perforated Muntz metal screens were brake-formed with additional panels brake-formed using the reverse angle attached on the interior of the atrium opening. The screens began at the reception, continuing on each floor up to the ceiling where 38 perforated angled skylight panels complete the feature. Eventscape’s scope included all screen elements including structural mounting brackets, modular steel frames, walnut cladding elements and guardrail caps.
The Muntz panels required a 9-step process from initial engineering to laser cutting, polishing, and forming with a final patina finish. On the skylight panels, a thinner metal was used with a custom forming technique to obtain the sharp angle required. Each fabrication step had its own custom QC process held to extremely tight tolerances to ensure all parts would fit together as expected. After QC’ing all parts, everything was protected with masking for shipping and installation and only removed at completion. Getting the oversized Muntz panels into the upper floors of the building required an orchestrated logistics effort including the use of a crane to elevate crates onto the 12th floor balcony. Once in the building, the Muntz panels were installed using custom tools designed and manufactured by Eventscape specifically for this application. The tools ensured a safe and efficient working environment so that the Muntz panels would not get damaged during handling. Eventscape coordinated with the GC to implement a scaffold spanning the atrium that would be safe; allowing the installation of panels overhanging the slab and other trades to complete their work simultaneously. The custom guardrail was extruded out of aluminum and engineered to have precise angles as required by the client. After cutting and polishing an anodized finish was used.
During installation, the powder-coated steel framing was installed first. Each frame was unique to its location to create a graduated elevation, reaching the ceiling in sections and dropping down to handrail height in others. These were welded to steel embedment plates cast-in to the concrete floor. Once these frames were secure, the Muntz panels were installed with custom stained and finished solid walnut caps. Even the hardware was a custom brass finish to pair with the Muntz metal. The installation team used lasers to maintain the vertical alignment across this diagonal space for all panels. Working on 7 floors simultaneously required both precise logistics and a detailed phased schedule. This stunning project won the 2020 Interior Design Magazine BOY (Best of Year) award for Finance/Law Offices.