project of the month -02.12 -hooked on phonics:

pronunciations vary for non-locals, but for those living in and around northwest washington state, puyallup is a city located south of seattle.  or southeast of tacoma, if you prefer.  (don’t worry, locals will tell you which one, if any, is correct).  either way, our hearing is going due to too much rock and roll in our youth at the tacoma dome,  so we are have trouble nailing it down.  no worries. 

the name comes from the native american puyallup tribe.  “puyallup” means the generous people.  we can see that.  nice people, nice city and nice architectural sensibilities. 

take the puyallup city hall, for instance.  designed by the mighty mithun firm on the great alaskan way in nearby seattle, this building absolutely sings with massing and materiality.  we say “mighty” for a reason.  mithun architects provided the architectural, interior design, and landscaping services for this private-public stunner.  (http://mithun.com/projects/project_detail/puyallup_city_hall_block/)

the team at mithun has managed to join the public and private realms with a project that accommodates shops on the main street front and a public plaza + courtyard + landscape to be enjoyed by all.  moreover, the mixing of a material pallet that includes concrete, brick, glass, wood, plants, lights and zinc, could have been a disaster in less skilled hands.  mithun makes it happen with an ease that doesn’t shout for or demand attention.  instead, it has a subtle and sweet finesse that sneaks up on you. 

The only thing we’re concerned about is that drivers passing this building too fast will suddenly slam on their breaks and cause accidents! (“whoa!  what was that?”)  closer inspection (of the zinc first, of course) reveals zinc panel sizes intentionally rendered so that the reveals line up with the mullions.  sounds easy.  hard to do once paper meets the reality of construction.  by the way, the zinc was expertly installed by locals:  architectural sheet metal of puyallup.  (www.architecturalsheetmetal.com)

we believe that the installers’ local pride, combined with their craftsmanship, speaks for itself.  but, because this is a blog, we will mention that the vertical interlocking wall panels were drawn in such a way that they create texture as they draw the eye to the sky. the vertical columns above the brick massing at the street front intensify this effort. wrapping the zinc around to the nearby fascia brings the eye back to the other elements, including the glass and the wood soffit. the brick base box anchors the ensemble to the lively street.

everywhere you turn, the materiality of this building plays out like a small symphony.  quiet and confident — not like great grandma cranking out show tunes on her 1970s hi-fi at full volume in the room down the hall.  no, this building is more like a drive along the ocean on a sunday afternoon, or a windswept field on an open prairie.  calm with an element of the uncontrolled.  and yet, somehow, it is being controlled.  generous in it’s own way.  enough said.

we hope you go by this project. get off i-5 for a few moments and take a look.  if you dig architecture, you’ll be glad that you did.  on the way, you can practice non-local variations of the name: “pju-AWL-ep” … “pew-owl-up”   …”pew-awl-ap”   ”hello? hooked on phonics?” 

enjoy -vm

photos by gilbertson photography.  (www.gilbertsonphotography.com)

editorial contributions by bryan ninneman

road trip:  (not really news, just an update on where we are)  part of the vmzinc team is in clearwater beach, florida -at least for another day or two.  we are attending the metal construction association annual meeting.  (www.metalconstruction.org)  we are also one of the sponsors for the event.  this is a good meeting with relevant information and a healthy exchange of ideas.  sponsors, business partners, associates and even the competition attend, learn, laugh and discuss the industry.  business gets done and attendees can learn about the state of the market -a worthwhile endeavor in and of itself.  of course, it helps that it is being held in a non-winter-like location, too. not surprisingly, attendendance is up this year.  we’ll keep you posted. -vm View high resolution

road trip:  (not really news, just an update on where we are)  part of the vmzinc team is in clearwater beach, florida -at least for another day or two.  we are attending the metal construction association annual meeting.  (www.metalconstruction.org)  we are also one of the sponsors for the event. 

this is a good meeting with relevant information and a healthy exchange of ideas.  sponsors, business partners, associates and even the competition attend, learn, laugh and discuss the industry.  business gets done and attendees can learn about the state of the market -a worthwhile endeavor in and of itself.  of course, it helps that it is being held in a non-winter-like location, too. not surprisingly, attendendance is up this year.  we’ll keep you posted. -vm

happy 2012 and welcome back to the ZINC sense blog.  we’re going to kick the year off right now with the january project(s) of the month:  frozen music-the stephen hawking centre at the perimeter institute for theoretical physics.  

if you are ever in toronto, ontario, with a day to kill, you may want to drive to the community of waterloo.  there is plenty to see (and do) in toronto, but waterloo may take you on a visual journey that is rare in an age where communities everywhere are trying their hand at the architectural-icon-as-attraction-idea. 

once in waterloo, drive to the centre, located along the banks of a meandering river- specifically at 31 caroline street north.  it will take you a little while to get there from toronto (depending on your driving habits), but the drive will be worth it if you would like to see not one, but two incredible buildings connected by the talents of two amazing firms.

the arch daily website has an incredible spread on the first part of this building.  it was designed by the powerhouse firm saucier and perrotte architects.  (http://www.saucierperrotte.com/ and the arch daily link is located at: http://www.archdaily.com/12293/perimeter-institute-for-theoretical-physics-saucier-perrotte-architectes/). the design sensibility is pure mastery of form followed by striking details -all rendered with the rarest of architectural qualities; restraint.  not to oversell this firm, but saucier and perrotte have this touch that lies somewhere between poetic massing that approaches the monolithic, and a dozen Dixon Ticonderoga # 2 pencils. 

teeple architects designed the second part of the centre.  do yourself a favor and check out the washed out image of the centre on their site at  http://www.teeplearch.com/.  the images above are of the teeple addition to the perimeter institute.  all four are from old vm friend, gilbertson photography.  (www.gilbertsonphotography.com)  the panels are flatlock panels in quartz zinc, and were installed by the craftspeople at flynn canada.  (www.flynn.ca) 

whereas saucier and perrotte celebrate the work in a quiet manner, teeple architects also celebrate the detail -the normally quiet or the small moves, if you will, within the larger massing of the addition.  only they do it with the exuberance of a howitzer.  everywhere one looks at this addition, the joy, the simplicity of the moves, is celebrated and served in suprise after closer-inspection-surprise.  the joy is in the looking.  and then looking again.  the lines invite the eyes to explore, move, dance, twist, jump, and finally rest.  what could have easily been a heavy, heavy hand has managed to recognize the significant, and has given it form.

we can, and probably should, go on and on and on about all of the other cool people and cool details involved with and in this project.  all of that and the work of the institute, and the teaching that takes place there, and the mood and vibe of the intellect that oozes out of every corner and crevice of the centre.  we could talk about the history of the institute and how it is indirectly tied to the pioneers of the smart phone.  we could talk about all of that and more.   but we won’t.  at least not during this initial design salvo shooting across a northern sky.  instead, we invite you to drive up there and stop and look for yourself.  perhaps call in advance.  why?

because this is a building composed of two buildings.  forgive the weak poetic license and the waxing poetic, this building (these buildings) bring it out -in droves.  like the ying and yang, or any other symbol that has a visual balance, the two parts of the centre work together while maintaining their own identities. all of that and because it is worth it. 

enjoy. -vm

we are in los angeles today where a big wallet can rent a lambo from hertz, or a bigger wallet can buy one from someplace nearby.  either way, you will still be doing 25 to 45 in the fast lane of the 110 during certain parts of the day. (we rented a chevy malibu, for the record.)  speaking of mobility, we would like to take a moment and thank all of our far-flung friends, customers, clients, reps and families for a great 2011.  we had the issue of too much work and not enough time this year.  we are thankful for such luxurious problems and appreciate your investment of time and energy with our company.  thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  (which is where we keep all of the things that we cherish.  except for the lambo, of course.  that is kept behind a gate near LAX.) we wish you a restful and joyful holiday, and a great 2012! -vm View high resolution

we are in los angeles today where a big wallet can rent a lambo from hertz, or a bigger wallet can buy one from someplace nearby.  either way, you will still be doing 25 to 45 in the fast lane of the 110 during certain parts of the day. (we rented a chevy malibu, for the record.) 

speaking of mobility, we would like to take a moment and thank all of our far-flung friends, customers, clients, reps and families for a great 2011.  we had the issue of too much work and not enough time this year.  we are thankful for such luxurious problems and appreciate your investment of time and energy with our company.  thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  (which is where we keep all of the things that we cherish.  except for the lambo, of course.  that is kept behind a gate near LAX.)

we wish you a restful and joyful holiday, and a great 2012! -vm

holiday sugar:  we are in san francisco this week and had the opportunity between meetings to take a quick walk through the san francisco palace hotel.  built in 1875 and rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, this jewel in the heart of san fran is worth the stop.  more information about a history rich with presidents, actors, authors and quite possibly many architects, can be found here:  http://www.sfpalace.com/history.   located at number 2 on new montgomery street, we recommend it for quick, or even sustained, bursts of sugar.  enjoy this holiday treat.  -vm View high resolution

holiday sugar:  we are in san francisco this week and had the opportunity between meetings to take a quick walk through the san francisco palace hotel.  built in 1875 and rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, this jewel in the heart of san fran is worth the stop.  more information about a history rich with presidents, actors, authors and quite possibly many architects, can be found here:  http://www.sfpalace.com/history.   located at number 2 on new montgomery street, we recommend it for quick, or even sustained, bursts of sugar.  enjoy this holiday treat.  -vm

green friends:  our friends at dri-design (www.dri-design.com) were recently featured on the bdc network’s green zone.  check out their sweet videos (plural) in the lower right hand corner of the screen.  after you watch the first building (filmed at green build) click on the next video to see how fast this material goes up.  it’s pretty amazing and nice to see a product that is designed for efficiency as well as aesthetics.  here’s the link:  http://www.bdcnetwork.com/greenzone/dri-design.html  enjoy. -vm

green friends:  our friends at dri-design (www.dri-design.com) were recently featured on the bdc network’s green zone.  check out their sweet videos (plural) in the lower right hand corner of the screen.  after you watch the first building (filmed at green build) click on the next video to see how fast this material goes up.  it’s pretty amazing and nice to see a product that is designed for efficiency as well as aesthetics.  here’s the link:  http://www.bdcnetwork.com/greenzone/dri-design.html  enjoy. -vm

making bacon -canadian road trip:  we took a little detour from the construct canada show today and spent the morning looking at (what else) zinc projects in and around the greater toronto area.  all the projects rocked in their own way.  and, like children, we love them all.  or, perhaps more germane, like maple syrup and bacon, we dig ‘em both.  (eh.)  however… the photo above is of pigmented zinc (we call it “pigmento”) being installed on a new courthouse in kitchner -north of toronto.  the pigmented zinc comes in three flavors, and, if one looks closely, in multiple widths, textures and dimensions.  in this case, the courthouse is sporting multiple widths of an interlocking panel.  (more info can be found on the interlocking panel used on this project at www.vmzinc-us.com).  in addition, the soffit panels will be dri-design panels sauteed in zinc.  (www.dri-design.com).  now, before we get called out for always talking about zinc, (sidebar: um, check out the name of the blog), let us share a great video link for this project:  http://tinyurl.com/c6whl4k .  this video shows the project being built from the moment it comes out of the ground to… well, let’s just say that it is a very tasty treat for those that are so inclined.  forgive the weak metaphor -kind of like canadian bacon.  enjoy. -vm    View high resolution

making bacon -canadian road trip:  we took a little detour from the construct canada show today and spent the morning looking at (what else) zinc projects in and around the greater toronto area.  all the projects rocked in their own way.  and, like children, we love them all.  or, perhaps more germane, like maple syrup and bacon, we dig ‘em both.  (eh.)  however…

the photo above is of pigmented zinc (we call it “pigmento”) being installed on a new courthouse in kitchner -north of toronto.  the pigmented zinc comes in three flavors, and, if one looks closely, in multiple widths, textures and dimensions.  in this case, the courthouse is sporting multiple widths of an interlocking panel.  (more info can be found on the interlocking panel used on this project at www.vmzinc-us.com).  in addition, the soffit panels will be dri-design panels sauteed in zinc.  (www.dri-design.com). 

now, before we get called out for always talking about zinc, (sidebar: um, check out the name of the blog), let us share a great video link for this project:  http://tinyurl.com/c6whl4k .  this video shows the project being built from the moment it comes out of the ground to… well, let’s just say that it is a very tasty treat for those that are so inclined.  forgive the weak metaphor -kind of like canadian bacon.  enjoy. -vm  
 

thankful california-11-11 project of the month:  we almost missed the end of the month without our regular project of the month feature.  we are in toronto this week for the construct canada show.  (www.constructcanada.com).  so, before the month slips away (in about one hour) allow us to share this beautiful pigmento green zinc project with you. 

this is the temple sinai in oakland, california.  worth the drive if one is in the bay area, this beautiful project contrasts the existing temple with the new addition by michael harris architecture.  (http://www.mbh-arch.com/)  in addition, michael harris contrasts vertical and horizontal elements of the addition and echoes those moves in the orientation of the zinc standing seam panels. 

the project was installed by peterson sheet metal and the photography was shot by gilbertson photography. we are thankful to share it with you -this month.  enjoy. =vm

happy thanksgiving! -vm

happy thanksgiving! -vm

back in the saddle again -after a brief respite, we are back in the saddle again and with a nice dakota-centric announcement to share:  M3Sixty has joined the VMZINC family as independent reps for the dakotas.  as a side note, our company has an extensive representative network across the country.  M3Sixty brings decades of experience in the facade and architectural markets and completes a missing puzzle piece for the midwest.  we are happy that they have joined the team and look forward to working with them from minot to sioux falls and all stops in between.  welcome to the ranch, boys! -vm

back in the saddle again -after a brief respite, we are back in the saddle again and with a nice dakota-centric announcement to share:  M3Sixty has joined the VMZINC family as independent reps for the dakotas. 

as a side note, our company has an extensive representative network across the country.  M3Sixty brings decades of experience in the facade and architectural markets and completes a missing puzzle piece for the midwest. 

we are happy that they have joined the team and look forward to working with them from minot to sioux falls and all stops in between.  welcome to the ranch, boys! -vm