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THE MUTH BUILDING
STANTON, CALIFORNIA
Photography: Hansen Photography
CMACN 2005 Awards Edition, “CMU Profiles in Architecture”
Jury
Comments: It is certain that the choice of
concrete masonry was never in doubt. The detailing of that
material is quite another in what is essentially a post and
beam structure made rigid by the masonry shear walls. The
alternating split faced to honed face horizontal banding
creates a rich rustication when juxtaposed to the metallic
copper surfaces and green-tinted glazing. This contrast of
textures is fully continuous around the perimeter, while the
boundaries of interior verses exterior vanish. The clear
expression of the bay system of the structure will remain as
timeless ornamentation.
The Muth Building, a corporate headquarters, is designed
for a concrete masonry manufacturer. The primary factor in
the design was to use concrete masonry in conjunction with
other natural materials and colors to display the company
products and to foster pride in the employees.
Concrete masonry is the dominate material, alternating split face and honed courses in a “blended pattern” to give a maximum of life to the columns and spandrels as the shadows change with the arch of the sun. Spandrels are held away from the natural green glazing to showcase the masonry through glass from the interior of the space.
A design principle was established that all masonry would stand alone. All intersecting walls are glass that is slipped into a slit in the masonry. Additionally contributing to the indoor-outdoor relationship is the consistent use of concrete masonry paving throughout. Upon entering the site, a “tumbled” pattern of concrete masonry units in the palette of the building is used. Then, the visitor walks on the “smooth” pattern of the same units, and upon entering the building, the lobbies and the stairs are the same units, but now highly finished or “honed”. A true continuum is created by this hierarchy of concrete masonry pavers from inside to outside.
Finally, in a very direct way, the concrete masonry products manufactured by this company are displayed on the primary cross lobby wall as a montage. This wall, “The Great Wall of ORCO” became an exhilarating competition among the employees.
ARCHITECT:
LP3
Architecture, Inc.
158 N. Glassell, Suite 201
Orange, CA 92866
Leason
F. Pomeroy III, FAIA
Principal
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER:
SKT Structural Engineering
GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
Snyder-Langston
MASONRY CONTRACTOR:
Nuway Masonry
BLOCK PRODUCER:
ORCO Block Company, Inc.
OWNERS:
ORCO Block Company, Inc.
