Arcus
The Arcus Center for Social Justice opened in the fall of 2014. Designed with sustainability and use of local materials in mind the design is striking and novel. It should come as no surprise that it was Chicago's famous Studio Gang was the architect.
I personally love how this building will fade into the surrounding landscape over the coming years. I know that there were some neighbors who weren't happy with the plans but hopefully in time this building will be seen as a local landmark.
The use of cordwood masonry on the exterior walls is fascinating to me. The walls are beautiful, warm, and textured. One thing that is strange is that it appears that the building was built without any kind of control joints in its exterior walls. In a typical masonry wall you need to allow for movement or thermal expansion every 20 fee or so (or wherever the wall height changes). It doesn't appear that this building has any. I wonder if that is because wood has different properties than brick or stone or if it was an oversight by the builder or the architect. Time will tell.
Arcus
The Arcus Center for Social Justice opened in the fall of 2014. Designed with sustainability and use of local materials in mind the design is striking and novel. It should come as no surprise that it was Chicago's famous Studio Gang was the architect.
I personally love how this building will fade into the surrounding landscape over the coming years. I know that there were some neighbors who weren't happy with the plans but hopefully in time this building will be seen as a local landmark.
The use of cordwood masonry on the exterior walls is fascinating to me. The walls are beautiful, warm, and textured. One thing that is strange is that it appears that the building was built without any kind of control joints in its exterior walls. In a typical masonry wall you need to allow for movement or thermal expansion every 20 fee or so (or wherever the wall height changes). It doesn't appear that this building has any. I wonder if that is because wood has different properties than brick or stone or if it was an oversight by the builder or the architect. Time will tell.