Community Connections Natural wood seems to glow from within when it is well-lit, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. A growing number of institutions are choosing wood construction for its aesthetic appeal as well as its practical advantages.
A COMPELLING OCULUS The Charles Library at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA Featuring one of the city’s largest green roofs, this 220,000-sq.ft. LEED Gold library serves as a central hub on campus. To impart an inviting, natural look, the design team chose a custom panelized linear wood system. Between the exterior and interior ceiling and wall applications, over 50,000-sq.ft. of linear Western red cedar panels were installed. The wood type was chosen for its versatility, aesthetic qualities and durability, which allows exterior use. Three arched entrances lined with Western red cedar extend from the exterior into the lobby, where they open up into a three-storey domed atrium. The central dome features a curved oculus that allows light to filter into the lobby from the top floor. The oculus is the only area of the ceiling where the wood panels are not bent. The unique geometry for each of the domes was achieved by gently bending the 2x10-ft. wood panels and installing them in a custom curved framing system. The primary dome is a revolved ellipsoid, allowing it to be constructed of a limited number of different panels. The rest of the system is made of single-curvature geometries, using the sameshaped panel. While a high level of skill was required for installation, the key to successful completion was a precise panel manufacturing process and digital coordination with the framing contractor. ARCHITECTS: Snøhetta/NY (design architect, landscape architect, interior architecture); Stantec/NY (architect of record, sustainability, LEED consultant, MEP engineering) STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers/New York, NY GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Daniel J. Keating Company/Narberth, PA IMAGES: Michael Grimm
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