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Valders Stone architectural panels used on the University of Michigan Art Center

Dec 10, 2009

The University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) has occupied all or part of the sandstone, Beaux-Arts-style Alumni Memorial Hall since its completion by Donaldson and Meier Architects in 1910. Founded in 1856, it is one of the oldest university art collections in the United States, and since then, it has grown to include more than 18,000 artworks. To accommodate that growth, and to reinvent the institution as a “town square” for the wider campus, UMMA undertook a renovation of the original structure as well as the addition of a 53,000-square-foot wing by Portland, Oregon—based Allied Works Architecture. The expanded facility, which reopened in late March, is an understated yet mature work that defers to Alumni Hall, accommodates existing site uses, and speaks to the institution’s desire to create a community-focused space.

Program
The Allied Works museum addition is a roughly T-shaped volume clad in expanses of limestone panels quarried in Wisconsin. Elsewhere, the double-glazed curtain wall is distinguished by a colonnade of 12-by-41⁄2-inch tubular steel supports, which evokes the proportions and rhythm of Donaldson and Meier’s entry columns. It is located between the north elevation of Alumni Memorial Hall and the Albert Kahn—designed Angell Hall, on the last buildable site on the original University of Michigan campus.

“The museum wanted an important building that could work on a campus that hadn’t really supported contemporary architecture,” says Allied Works founder Brad Cloepfil, AIA. “The other charge was to counter the introversion of the historic building.” The new wing is intended to invite students, in particular, into the building.

In one respect, the design team had no choice but to welcome the student population. UMMA’s building site directly obstructs the so-called Diag, a major axis for cross-campus pedestrian traffic. “In the middle of the day, a constant flood of students travels diagonally through that space,” says project architect Chelsea Grassinger. “A lot of our initial thinking had to do with respecting the original flow of circulation. The siting and massing of the building tries to integrate with it as much as possible.”

Solution
Officially known as the Maxine and Stuart Frankel and the Frankel Family Wing, Allied Works’ design embraces the Diag by eliminating visual obstructions at grade.

The architects organized the building around three cast-in-place concrete decks. Each one rests on three 6-foot-diameter concrete piers and joins to the steel curtain-wall structure. The limestone panels are clipped to relieving angles. Cloepfil explains, “The intention of the big cantilevers is to maintain some level of transparency [on the ground floor], so it would feel that we were respecting the openness of the site and engaging people as they travel along the Diag and look into the building.”

Cloepfil pushed the curtain wall to the exterior of the tubular-steel colonnade to frame circulation areas. These “lenses” reveal interior activity to potential museumgoers traversing the Diag; for those inside, they provide views to campus without distracting from the work on display.

The trio of decks also fans out in a pinwheel formation around a central atrium that allows students passing through the building to glimpse exhibitions above them. Should they decide to explore the galleries upstairs, they will find three stairwells that support a variety of sequences for repeat visitors. (There is no admission fee.)

The new building not only triples the UMMA’s exhibition space, it also accommodates classrooms, conservation labs, a curatorial library, retail, and a 235-seat lecture hall. Yet its entrance clearly feels secondary to the Alumni Hall’s front doors.

Commentary
The cantilevering parti of Allied Works’ (AW) design defines three exterior courtyards, and eastern and western portions of the new volume are nipped inward to create sheltered porticos bordering these outdoor spaces. But the courtyards are largely unanimated. Hardscaping elements, additional plantings, or arts programming could easily rectify this effect. Up above, the atrium feels truncated. Glazing on the tubular-steel armature that also frames the roof plane would amplify the verticality of this essential feature.

Otherwise, AW has gracefully assimilated the Frankel wing to the well-traversed axis of the Diag without sacrificing the quiet, contemplative quality of the exhibition spaces. The fritted-glass curtain wall bathes the galleries in diffuse daylight. The effect is moody yet casual, negating a new student’s misperception of art viewing as a rarefied activity. The stairwells are particularly successful at striking this mood. Distributed throughout the building in intimately scaled segments, the stairwells are more like rooms that invite student lounging and sketching.

Winner of 2009 MIA Natural Stone Scholarship Award

Nov 03, 2009

“Green” Initiative Helps Win MIA Scholarship

The Marble Institute of America, Inc. (MIA) was pleased to announce Michael Schumacher, a LEED® AP, Sales, Business Development specialist at Valders Stone & Marble, Inc. of Valders, Wisconsin, as the 2009 recipient of the MIA Natural Stone Scholarship Award.

The scholarship was established by the MIA to provide educational opportunities for aspiring fabricators, installers, or administrative apprentices interested in furthering their careers in the stone industry. Schumacher’s selection was based on a 500-word essay explaining why he desires a career in the industry. “This scholarship would allow me to contribute to the natural stone industry as a whole. People will be using stone long after I’m gone. Stone has such a rich legacy, that I cannot let it stop with my generation. I’m fortunate to work where I do, and I will be taking advantage of every chance I can to perpetuate the natural stone movement. We all carry a message…I say, “Let’s Rock!”

Shortly after joining Valders Stone and Marble, Schumacher became a LEED Accredited Professional and he is one of only a few stone representatives with this credential. Since passing the LEED exam, he has been busy carving a niche for natural stone in the LEED process.

In a letter of recommendation from Bryan Frankovis, sales manager, Valders Stone & Marble said, “Mr. Schumacher’s decision to apply for the MIA Natural Stone scholarship doesn’t come as a surprise. He has constantly shown his initiative and willingness to learn product knowledge, applications, and awareness of the marketplace. He has the drive and energy necessary to make sure any project he is working on is complete, and done to the best of his ability.”

“The Marble Institute of America is excited to recognize Mr. Schumacher’s commitment to the natural stone industry,” stated Gary Distelhorst, executive vice president of MIA. “The intent of the MIA Natural Stone Scholarship Award is to provide educational opportunities for aspiring natural stone professionals, and the opportunity to expand one’s knowledge.”

The award was presented to Schumacher at the MIA annual Awards Luncheon at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in Las Vegas on October 23, 2009. While there Michael also attended the following educational series: How to Leverage the Internet to Grow Your Business – Advanced Marketing Techniques for a Recession – Moving Up in a Downward Economy – Five Marketing Moves to Make Now! – Natural Stone Veneer “The Good. The Bad. The Ugly” – Exploring Life-Cycle Methodology – The Geology of Dimensional Stone – Are you Cheating Yourself? A Review of Cost vs. Price.

Only one person in the country wins this award each year. This is the stone industry's version of winning an Oscar for the best supporting actor. This will be a great opportunity to enhance Michael’s industry knowledge and career. Michael is also chairing the Sustainability Committee for the Building Stone Institute, and working with different organizations sharing his knowledge of energy saving building practices.

Featured Project at Valders Stone & Marble

Oct 09, 2009

The OC Tanner Company utilized a building with a rich history for its newest location in Salt Lake City, UT. It was the dream of founder, Obert C. Tanner, to create “America’s Most Beautiful Store.” This stunning renovation was designed by, local firm, MJSA Architects. Originally built and donated to the city as a book depository in 1906, the building served as a planetarium prior to being acquired by its current owner.

Over 600,000 pounds of Valders Buff Limestone were used to complete the renovation. Valders Buff Pavers with a thermal finish warmly welcome you to this historic landmark. Ornate cut stone elements were fabricated to match the existing building facade. A three-story glass curtain wall is framed by 18 laser engraved stone panels that feature scenes depicting the history of the building. Tapered copings, radial panels, profiled accents, interior flooring, stair systems, and other showpieces from Valders Stone & Marble complete the store’s intricate detail.

We are proud to have teamed up with Turned to Stone on what is, currently, the largest laser etched project of its kind in the entire world. Valders Stone & Marble, Inc. would like to thank MJSA Architects, and the following contractors: Kepco+, Child Enterprises, Caffall Tile & Supply Company, Inc., and Delta Stone Product. They did a fantastic job of showcasing our stone.

For more information on this project; please click on the following link:
OC Tanner News Story

Eden Stone and Valders Stone & Marble, Inc. Over 1,000,000 hours worked without a “lost time accident”.

Jul 20, 2009

Workers in the mining industry face challenges that are not present in most other industries. We deal with weather, heavy equipment, explosives, noise, and dust. The most challenging safety issues for our employees are the splitting and dressing of stone using hammers and chisels, the cutting and grinding of the stone for sizing and detailing work and the handling of the stone. Some pieces weigh over one ton and are mechanically lifted. The majority of the stone must be manually lifted and stacked on pallets for production as well as quarry removal.

To achieve a goal of this magnitude has taken a combined and focused effort, investment in safety training and personal protective systems and equipment to prepare the company and all employees to operate safely. Eden Stone Company and Valders Stone & Marble, Inc., a division of Eden Stone have and continue to be committed to the safety of our employees.

The company challenged our foreman and employees to meet or beat the “1 million hours without a lost time accident” accomplishment. Now, over two years later we have not only met our goal but we have surpassed it. This a feat rarely achieved in the mining industry. We are on our way to our new goal of two million hours!

We at Eden Stone Company and Valders Stone & Marble Inc. are very proud of our employees attainment of this excellent level of safety performance and the diligence of Bill Ripley, our corporate safety engineer. The company recognized the achievements of our employees with a lunch and awards presentation at the Eden and Valders WI. plant locations. The employees and their efforts were recognized by Dave Wirtz (Eden Stone President) and Rick Corser (Eden Stone Vice-President) and Bill Ripley (Corporate Safety Engineer).

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