innovation
Holey of holeys ... the perforations in
The interior of Kroon Hall,
an innovative building in
the ultra-traditional
setting of Yale University.
and interactive building features. It also involved a range of
groundbreaking design actions. Program analysis grouped
similar functions together to eliminate overlaps. Faculty office
and research spaces are modular in design and offer efficient
change of use for future modification.
One big idea
Significant portions of the top floor are flexible spaces that can
provide for a variety of uses. By grouping most plant functions
and the delivery node below an expansive green roof, the
design was able to dramatically increase energy efficiency.
A new exterior envelope and new interior were provided to serve the building’s current role as a multi-tenant workspace. The three-storey mixed-use project was developed and constructed by the building’s primary occupant, a general contractor specialising in green building. Other occupants are an architecture firm, and a restaurant and bar. Because the project site is on the US National Register of Historic Places, the San Francisco Planning Department mandated that the project’s new siding be an “in-kind” replacement of the original corrugated metal siding, which was unsalvageable, and that the overall window area be consistent between old and new. The design team successfully championed a strategy of introducing subtle perforations into the new zinc cladding to allow light and air into the occupied spaces beyond.
Environmental gains
Solar energy harvesting, a green roof, and natural ventilation
make the largest quantitative impact on the building’s overall
sustainability. But it was the new exterior skin that provided
the most fertile territory for sustainability and design.
The building’s new metal skin is perforated with fields of
small holes that allow light and air to pass through new
hidden windows. The perforated outer skin mitigates solar
heat gain while enabling cross-ventilation of the interior.
The result is a generously illuminated and well-ventilated
interior, providing a pleasing view from within while
simultaneously offering a degree of privacy for the occupants.
355 11TH sTrEET – maTarOzzI/pElsINgEr BUIldINg
BUIldINg UsE: restaurant, industrial, commercial office
wOrK: renovation of existing building
sIzE: 1300 sqm
COmplETEd: September 2008
355 Eleventh was previously a derelict, turn-of-the-century
industrial building. The building’s original timber frame
structure was retained and upgraded for earthquake conditions.
One big idea
Rather than using pre-perforated panels, the designers
embraced the idea of perforations. Customised CNC (computer
numerical control) milling allowed the creation of a seamless,
building-scale gradient – from opaque to over 50 per cent open
– across the entire façade of corrugated metal. The reflections
of the interior glass are revealed during the day, with the warm
glow of the interior becoming visible at night.
