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QUARRY ROAD WAREHOUSE
SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA
Photography:
Kirk Miller Affiliates
“A simple, but elegant warehouse” was the design goal of the client – simple to keep the costs down, elegant to be a good neighbor and to be a more attractive building in a depressed leasing market.
Concrete masonry units (CMU’s) were the obvious starting point for a building material for this 16,240 square foot structure sited on a 22,288 square foot lot that would also require fifteen parking spaces. There was not sufficient volume or correct site conditions for concrete tilt-up. The client wanted something more durable than wood or steel frame. Pre-packaged metal buildings were not considered for aesthetic reasons.
After much deliberation, it was decided that the structure would be constructed of stacked bond split- faced concrete masonry block, and we offered some help structurally by introducing “columns” between the warehouse units. This also identified the individual units and broke up the long, flat elevation.
The facade was given further definition by creating a base, a body, and a capital. This was achieved by introducing belt-courses of thicker, and different colored CMU’s. The feeling of depth was increased by recessing the windows and extending their sills.
ttention was paid to the placement of windows and doors to achieve proportionality and a sense of rhythm. Accent colors were used for window frames, doors, and awnings.
The Quarry Warehouse is a building that has an honest use of materials with no false building elements. The raw material speaks elegantly without the need for non-functional decoration. Concrete masonry was the material that made this possible.
ARCHITECT:
Kirk Miller Affiliates
900
North Point, Suite C-205
San Francisco, CA 94109
L.
Kirk Miller, FAIA, CDS
Principal
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER:
A.
S. Associates, Inc. Engineers and Planners
CIVIL ENGINEER:
Robert
Lyon Associates, Consulting Engineers
GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
Consolidated
Pacific Construction
MASONRY CONTRACTOR:
Diablo
Masonry, Inc.
BLOCK PRODUCER:
Calstone
Company, Inc.
OWNER:
RBD, LLC.
