Commercial Architecture March 2018 - 31

PROJECT

interiors

2-in. flat-bar handrail fabricated with stainless-steel standoffs with #4 finish, and
NOMMA #1 that was used on all welds throughout the building's stairs and overlooks. This same custom-designed handrail carries to the custom post-supported
railing on multiple facility ramps using the flat bar and posts and a 4-in.-wide, 3/8in. thick continuous stainless-steel base that was epoxy anchored into the structure.
By using glass and unobtrusive mounting structures, the products provide a contemporary look while preserving the building's heritage components.
Trex was also able to open a window to the future by using recyclable materials
throughout, contributing to the university's desire of achieving LEED gold status
for the project. CA

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visit commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/1803trex.

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Get information on the Point series.
Access information on the Track Rail system.
Design a railing system.

The renovated building features custom stainless-steel flat-bar handrail, 825 ft. of which is wall mounted.
Photo courtesy Trex Commercial Products

Trex Commercial Products, Minneapolis (trexcommercial.com), was selected to
provide more than 3,300 ft. of ornamental railing for the project to achieve a modern, vibrant feel while allowing the character of the building to shine through. A
variety of glass-paneled railings, inside and outside the facility, offer unobstructed
views of the original architecture and modern additions. This not only allows natural light into the complex, but also complements the building's new character.
On the exterior, a newly created bridge is framed by Trex' Point-series glass railing with 1-in. laminated, tempered low-iron glass that affords a clear view of the
structure's original external masonry. The building's three-story main atrium features suspended, glass-walled meeting rooms, multi-level stairs, and balcony overlooks encompassing more than 950 ft. of Point-series railing that adds a minimalistic
look to the space. The railings' custom fascia-mounted stainless-steel nodes are
countersunk into the glass, and attached using stud-weld to a steel stringer. An
18-gauge stainless-steel top cap sits on the 1-in.-thick low-iron glass with PVB interlayer to create a one-of-a-kind look throughout the facility. The same glass-railing
system can also be found on exterior balconies overlooking campus on the west side
of the structure.
More than 1,200 ft. of Track Rail system was used throughout the facility, including multi-level stairs, balcony overlooks, and fire-shutter barriers. For this system,
the aluminum-shoe profile is mounted on a steel angle that is welded to the side of
the stair stringer. To provide a consistent look and feel throughout the interior, the
1-in. tempered, laminated glass with stainless-steel top cap that was used in the
Point-supported system was also used within the Track Rail system. A custom gray
gasket finishes off the top of the base-shoe system after the glass has been set to
achieve the desired look.
Another unifying element to the system is the custom stainless-steel 5/8-in. x
CIRCLE 209

http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/1803trex http://www.trexcommercial.com http://www.towersurfaces.com/education https://www.cdsreportnow.com/bgs/search?CBP0209201803

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture March 2018