Museum of Arts and Design

City

Region

Cladding Area46 500 sf

ArchitectAllied Works Architecture

OwnerMuseum of Arts and Design

Project type

Phase of InvolvementDesign
Construction

Type of Construction

Year of Completion2008

Built in 1962, Edward Durell Stone’s controversial white monolith at 2 Columbus Circle was transformed by Allied Works’ 2008 design into an exhibition space that allows natural light to enter through a series of structural “cuts” in the facade and concrete shell. Inset with transparent and fritted glass, the cuts punctuate a facade of 22,000 terra cotta tiles, fabricated by a centuries-old Dutch company using a custom, iridescent glaze that changes with the time of day and point of view.

Early in the design process, Heintges inspected the original facade and discovered extensive material failures, resulting from a technically flawed enclosure wall design. Subsequently, a complete survey confirmed that restoration was no longer viable, especially in light of the proposed museum program. Heintges worked to address the technical challenge of adapting an antiquated enclosure to a contemporary museum, with its strict requirements for humidity, temperature, and light control. With only four inches between the original stone’s face and the lot line, a custom unitized curtain wall system was developed to satisfy all of the performance requirements for a modern museum, then installed from the exterior over the existing concrete backup wall.

Heintges provided curtain wall and building envelope consulting services during all phases of design and construction.

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Photographs 1 & 2 by Whitney Starbuck Boykin; Photographs 4-7 by Heintges.