Design Solutions - Fall 2008 - (Page 32) McIntire School of Business a close-up of The lay-lighT which features complicated geometry and joinery coordinated with steel support plates and removable windows for cleaning. on The laWn The lawn is a World Heritage site. Its design is seemingly a simple form of Jeffersonian Classicism, but what exists is more complex and has an amazing scale. Rouss Hall was designed by McKim, Mead & White and built in 1898. along with old Cabell Hall and Cocke Hall, it is the end setting of the lawn known as the academic Village and one of Jefferson’s masterpieces. The new building and interiors work within the language of the lawn 32 DESIgN SoLUTIoNS and maintain continuity of scale. Primary design objectives, according to lee Becker of Hartman-Cox architects, were “to design a building to meet the contemporary use and be compatible to the historic fabric of the existing building and to the scale the architectural character of the lawn and surrounding precinct.” Rouss Hall is a large building on an extremely constrained site. “That made for special challenges in construction and planning,” continues Becker. “Maintaining clarity and understanding of the interior comes from a series of clearly recognizable hub spaces. The interior woodwork is the key to creating these.” Ilex Woodworking’s Michael alt, Jr. reports that Cherry was used for classroom desks, and lecterns. Primed Poplar was used on all trim, jambs, partitions and panels. Wood floors are of re-sawn Heart Pine sawn from the existing beams and flooring that was removed. all of the interior trim, wood door casings, picture rails, transoms and casework tie together, points out Becker. TeamWork The woodworking firm provided technical assistance on all woodwork requirements and acted as coordinator with other trades. The most challenging aspect of the project notes Becker was framing for the horseshoe-shaped skylight in the dean’s suite. The large suspended laylight has complicated geometry and joinery that needed to be coordinated with steel support flitch plates and have removable windows for cleaning and maintenance. “It turned out beautifully and provides natural light to what had been a historically windowless space,” notes Becker. “Our relationship with Ilex, the I FaLL 2008
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