A Project with a
S
Fabricator conquers complex commercial construction of KRION® solid surface stairway By Andrew Dreves, ASID Spiral staircases are certainly nothing new but fabricating an enormous one in solid surface with compound angles, well that is new. And that’s exactly the project that renowned architectural firm Payette had in mind for an atrium in the building that would connect both 75 and 125 Binney Street, in the heart of Boston, that when completed would be the home of Ariad Pharmaceuticals. The design for the monumental stairs was
And it is that reputation that led to Payette being
depicted in the Ariad Pharmaceuticals logo.
high regard that fabrication company ASST,
inspired by the red spiraling spool of thread However, the design was highly complex with two surface planes meeting along a
rising curve (see Figure 1). The difficulty of
fabricating the project was nearly as massive as the project itself, so much so that most
fabricators wouldn’t even attempt it. However,
Payette already knew a company that would be likely to take on the challenge. The Architectural Firm Payette was no stranger to complex projects. Although it is based in Boston, it has
completed advanced architectural projects around the world.
The firm was originally most well known for the many hospital and healthcare facilities
it designed centered on enhancing patient experiences. It created architecture with
an intimate connection to the landscape
coupled with an abundant use of color and natural light to help orient patients and
visitors. Through the promotion of the same humanistic values and fundamental design approach, over time the firm broadened its focus to include high-technology
buildings, bringing deep technical expertise, Figure 1 – Krion in the colors Red Fire and Snow White were used on the stair with the Snow White cladding on the underbelly and interior areas of the stair. An expansion joint located at the facet between the upper and lower panels provided room for adjustment prior to the final Krion panel glue-up.
commitment to rigorous research and
dedication to beauty to a new class of
projects. Today, the practice has advanced
selected to work on this project. Similarly, the
based in south central Pennsylvania, was held in based on the positive outcome of the previous work it had performed with Payette, was the motivating factor to bringing the fabricator
onboard for this difficult project. ASST had
previously worked with Payette on the Penn
State Hershey Children’s Hospital and so the
architect was familiar with the well-developed thermoforming capabilities ASST possessed. While other fabricators were invited to bid on
the project, ultimately it didn’t necessarily come down to price, but rather ASST was selected
because of its thermoforming experience and clean safety record combined with its ability to provide an adequate bonding on a large
complicated project such as this to reduce owner and general contractor risk. The Fabricator So who was this fabricator daring enough
to take on such a difficult project? If you ask anyone familiar with ASST, they likely won’t
be surprised that the company stepped up to
the plate. ASST is an award-winning specialty surfaces fabricator and manufacturer. As
an industry leader, it specializes in complex
fabrications and complete Division 6 millwork and casework solutions for the healthcare industry.
as an international architectural thought
However, its work spans a variety of markets
services to leading institutions across the
retail and corporate/public space arenas.
leader, providing planning and design country and abroad.
beyond healthcare, such as the education, Known for its innovative (and patented)
International Surface Fabricators Association • Vol. 8 / Issue 4 • 31