Steel was a suitable material because of its lightness and flexibility, especially when the building or structure needed to have an indeterminate layout for future repurposing. Its stiffness and strength-to-weight ratio was also ideal for long-span enclosures, which allow for the creation of column-free interior spaces. It was also easy to work with when the architect needed to design structural connections with refined detailing.
GEOMETRIC PATTERN The building’s elements—such as the glazing configurations and floor finishes—use a coherent geometric pattern of angular lines seen in the roof. Tall windows are ‘broken up’ by angular, solid panels, whereas the floor finish is a combination of three different textures that snakes geometrically through the spaces. The floor scape breaks into a webbed pattern along the rear of the building, allowing for comprehensive soft landscaping between footpaths. These lush greeneries help shade the building to decrease solar heat gain, as well as screen the services and back doors from view.
