Contract - November 2015 - 62

Interiors have a Finnish feel
with Baltic birch-clad walls
and Finnish soapstone floors
(below and opposite, left).
Birch groves provided
inspiration for the granite
patterns on the southwest
elevation of the new building
(opposite, right two).

62

finished with TexSton interior plaster for a less polished surface. On the
top floor, a natural maple-slat ceiling from Rulon gives the traditional
pitched ceiling and dormers a modern edge.
Occupying the small, irregular space between the two older
buildings is the curved new building, referred to as the Annex, which
connects to the older of the two buildings. The three-story, 29,000square-foot new building is a striking modern counterpoint to the
historic structures. The side that faces the neighborhood is clad in
white brick, and was inspired by the curved wall of Alvar Aalto's own
architecture studio dating from 1955, about five miles away. To make
the facade more dynamic, the design team added white granite "fins"
of small blocks of gray granite that catch the low rays of the sun as it
moves across the horizon, creating a pattern that is reminiscent of
Finland's ubiquitous silver birch trees. The facade that angles toward
the gulf is clad almost entirely in channel glass, which allows filtered
daylight through while maintaining privacy. A glass-walled lobby
bridges the Annex with the original offices. Unusually large for an
embassy lobby, it was designed as a flexible space that can be used
for gatherings. According to Ruble, this semi-public space innovation
has been successful.

The modern interiors of both new and old buildings are bright,
with white or pale finishes. To underscore a sense of place, the walls
feature Baltic birch, and floors are Finnish soapstone in both the new
building and the connected structure. Workspaces, which are largely
open-plan with a limited number of private offices, are furnished with
Knoll AutoStrada workstations, Knoll task seating, and iconic Saarinen
Executive chairs and Womb chairs. Healthy materials include
Marmoleum flooring throughout in lieu of carpet, as well as Vesta
ultra-low-emitting-formaldehyde particleboard.
To orchestrate a highly efficient and functional embassy across
three buildings, Moore Ruble Yudell needed to be practical and
sensitive to the project budget, while delivering within a fairly
compressed time frame. "Embassy projects have a huge learning curve,
but the work is extremely satisfying," says Ruble. "As architects of an
embassy, we are faced with a variety of requirements, but that comes
with the opportunity to make an important civic statement with a
high-performance contemporary building." c

contractdesign.com 	

NOVEMBER 2015



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Contract - November 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - November 2015

Contract - November 2015
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Columnist: The Building Blocks for a Truly Multidisciplinary Practice
Exhibition: Missed Opportunities at Chicago Architecture Biennial
Product Focus: A Gem of a Seat
Product Focus: Light Box
Product Briefs
Denver Union Station and The Crawford Hotel
U.S. Embassy Finland
Your Father’s Office Building, Repositioned
Sunset Media Center
One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
745 Atlantic Avenue
1133 Avenue of the Americas
Capella Tower
1201 Third Avenue
Designers Select: Tables and Casegoods
Sources
Ad Index
Installation: Member of Pussy Riot Depicted on Canvas in Sunset Media Center
Contract - November 2015 - Intro
Contract - November 2015 - Contract - November 2015
Contract - November 2015 - Cover2
Contract - November 2015 - 1
Contract - November 2015 - 2
Contract - November 2015 - 3
Contract - November 2015 - 4
Contract - November 2015 - 5
Contract - November 2015 - Contents
Contract - November 2015 - 7
Contract - November 2015 - 8
Contract - November 2015 - 9
Contract - November 2015 - 10
Contract - November 2015 - 11
Contract - November 2015 - 12
Contract - November 2015 - 13
Contract - November 2015 - 14
Contract - November 2015 - 15
Contract - November 2015 - 16
Contract - November 2015 - 17
Contract - November 2015 - 18
Contract - November 2015 - 19
Contract - November 2015 - Editorial
Contract - November 2015 - 21
Contract - November 2015 - 22
Contract - November 2015 - 23
Contract - November 2015 - Industry News
Contract - November 2015 - 25
Contract - November 2015 - 26
Contract - November 2015 - 27
Contract - November 2015 - Columnist: The Building Blocks for a Truly Multidisciplinary Practice
Contract - November 2015 - 29
Contract - November 2015 - 30
Contract - November 2015 - 31
Contract - November 2015 - Exhibition: Missed Opportunities at Chicago Architecture Biennial
Contract - November 2015 - 33
Contract - November 2015 - 34
Contract - November 2015 - 35
Contract - November 2015 - Product Focus: A Gem of a Seat
Contract - November 2015 - 37
Contract - November 2015 - Product Focus: Light Box
Contract - November 2015 - 39
Contract - November 2015 - Product Briefs
Contract - November 2015 - 41
Contract - November 2015 - 42
Contract - November 2015 - 43
Contract - November 2015 - 44
Contract - November 2015 - 45
Contract - November 2015 - 46
Contract - November 2015 - 47
Contract - November 2015 - 48
Contract - November 2015 - 49
Contract - November 2015 - Denver Union Station and The Crawford Hotel
Contract - November 2015 - 51
Contract - November 2015 - 52
Contract - November 2015 - 53
Contract - November 2015 - 54
Contract - November 2015 - 55
Contract - November 2015 - 56
Contract - November 2015 - 57
Contract - November 2015 - U.S. Embassy Finland
Contract - November 2015 - 59
Contract - November 2015 - 60
Contract - November 2015 - 61
Contract - November 2015 - 62
Contract - November 2015 - 63
Contract - November 2015 - 64
Contract - November 2015 - 65
Contract - November 2015 - Your Father’s Office Building, Repositioned
Contract - November 2015 - 67
Contract - November 2015 - 68
Contract - November 2015 - 69
Contract - November 2015 - Sunset Media Center
Contract - November 2015 - 71
Contract - November 2015 - One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
Contract - November 2015 - 73
Contract - November 2015 - 745 Atlantic Avenue
Contract - November 2015 - 75
Contract - November 2015 - 1133 Avenue of the Americas
Contract - November 2015 - 77
Contract - November 2015 - Capella Tower
Contract - November 2015 - 79
Contract - November 2015 - 1201 Third Avenue
Contract - November 2015 - 81
Contract - November 2015 - Designers Select: Tables and Casegoods
Contract - November 2015 - 83
Contract - November 2015 - Sources
Contract - November 2015 - 85
Contract - November 2015 - 86
Contract - November 2015 - Ad Index
Contract - November 2015 - Installation: Member of Pussy Riot Depicted on Canvas in Sunset Media Center
Contract - November 2015 - Cover3
Contract - November 2015 - Cover4
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