Aceh Community Room
Mercy Corps, 45 SW Ankeny St
Portland, OR 97204
Louis Kahn’s Stainless Steel Glazing System: Performance Upgrades in the Richards Building
A comprehensive renovation project was the catalyst for evaluating the exterior envelope of the Richards Medical Lab, and developing a design approach that retained the iconic visual and material characteristics while radically improving the energy performance and functional qualities of the building. This presentation will review the history and development of Kahn’s glazing system, showing the comprehensive approach that was undertaken by an integrated design team to conserve the original steel framing while optimizing the overall performance of the exterior envelope and building systems. In particular we will discuss the process undertaken to select the right glass to replace the original polished plate units – and how to successfully glaze the new lites into the existing frames – that ultimately best balanced preservation, energy efficiency, economy and constructibility.
Aaron Davis AIA is a Senior Associate at Heintges Consulting Architects & Engineers, building envelope and curtain wall consultants. Since joining the firm in 2011, he has enjoyed working with architects and owners on projects requiring a high degree of precision in pursuit of aesthetic and technical goals. His work includes bespoke façade solutions for notable projects including the Glenstone Museum (Thomas Phifer + Partners), Oceanwide Center (Foster + Partners), Corals at Keppel Bay (Studio Daniel Libeskind), and Richards Medical Laboratory (Louis Kahn / EYP).
Aaron holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from Columbia University in New York and has presented at conferences nationwide including Façade Tectonics and the National Institute of Building Science. His published work includes "Architecture Beyond Criticism: Expert Judgement and Performance Evaluation", published by Routledge.