Bank Upgrade Relies On Ashlar
Stonework
Posted: April 12, 2007
Using an alternating pattern of thin-cut black and Sand Beige
limestone veneer, as well as granite elements, RPR Architects
established a unique setting for the Alta Alliance Bank in Oakland, CA.
Located in Downtown Oakland, CA, the façade of the 13,000-square-foot
building that now houses the Alta Alliance Bank headquarters was in dire
need of a facelift, and locally based RPR Architects came to the rescue
in a timely manner. To enhance the outdated look of the exterior space,
the architects added a variety of limestone and granite to the exterior
façade of the building, and stone was also carried inside.
According to Design Principal Michael Perkocha, AIA of RPR
Architects, the building was originally constructed in the 1950s, and
remodeled in the 1970s. “The intent was to create a signature building
for Alta Alliance Bank,” he said. “We wanted to give it a fresh
contemporary look to attract customers and high-caliber employees.”
The exterior façade of the building features alternating stripes of
black and Sand Beige dolomitic limestone – which was quarried in
Indonesia – in a combination of bushhammered and split-faced finishes.
The material was supplied by Natural Stone Veneer of Henderson, NV, and distributed
by Dal-Tile corp. of San Leandro, CA.
RPR Architects considered a number of stone finishes before
ultimately selecting a combination of bushhammered and split-faced. “We
wanted something very eye-catching in terms of colors,” said the
architect. “The bushhammered and split faced finishes are appealing for
aesthetic reasons and are also less attractive to graffiti due to their
very coarse textures. Stone was the right choice for the bank, as it
made it seem solid and substantial.
“We knew we wanted a material that was contemporary but also
distinctive – the image of the shiny granite corporate bank wasn’t right
for Alta Alliance as a community-based bank,” the architect continued.
“The limestone, in combination with the signature yellow metal canopy
and fascia, had the right mix of warmth, solidity and brilliance.”
The pattern features a variety of random sizes that are 8 inches tall
and anywhere from 4 to 24 inches wide. The stone was laid in an ashlar
pattern and features pieces that are mainly 3/8 inches thick, although
the split-faced material tends to be thicker at the edges of the
building, according to Perkocha. “The stone was sealed with ProSoCo
Limestone and Marble Protector to sharpen the contrast and enhance the
color and veining of the natural stone veneer, while aiding with
maintaining the crispness of the design,” he said. Perkocha also added
that the exposed corners of the stone were all mitered, which he felt
was a fairly unique aspect of the project.
Additionally, the base of the building is comprised of Absolute Black
granite, which was also distributed by Dal-Tile corp. The bottom 2 feet
of the façade features 18- x 18-inch pieces of granite, while smaller 6-
x 6-inch pieces were used around the automated teller area of the bank.
Installing the stone
According to the architect, the biggest challenge was in applying the
stone veneer to an existing building with the multiple substrates. “In
some areas, we had to apply the veneer to a brick wall, and in other
areas to a steel framing,” he said. “Another challenge was that with the
ashlar pattern and random sizes of the stone, the material had to be
laid up using some artistic interpretation on the part of the masons.
The stone had to be carefully aligned so it maintained the random
appearance of ashlar masonry.
“The General Contractor, South Bay Construction, coordinated the
subcontractors on the job to assure De Anza Tile with access and a
properly prepared substrate for the application of the random-length
course stone,” Perkocha continued.
According to Rich Papapietro of De Anza Co., Inc. Tile of Palo Alta,
CA, the stonework took approximately one month to install, with a total
of four workers on the job. Using Megalite Crack Prevention Mortar from
Custom Building Products, the workers were able to adhere the stone
panels to the façade of the building. “The lightweight product has a
bond on it that is incredible,” said Papapietro.
The installer agreed with Perkocha that the different surfaces on the
building posed a challenge when it came time to install the stone. “It
was difficult going over all the different surfaces to try and achieve a
level plane,” he said. “The material was feathered out in some places by
the stucco workers and so forth which helped overcome this.” All the
prep work paid off because the final monolithic appearance of the stone
walls is exactly what the architect envisioned.
Natural stone was also carried inside the building, as slabs of
Absolute Black granite were used for bathroom and kitchen countertops.
This met the owner’s request that the interiors would be “warm and
inviting, with an upscale comfortable atmosphere.” “We wanted to carry
through the feeling of elegance and permanence that greets customers on
the exterior,” the architect added.
The project was carried out in a timely manner, taking only six
months to complete from start to finish. Finishing in January 2007, the
project was very well received, according to the architect. “The project
was done with some assistance from the community and Economic
Development Agency (CEDA) of Oakland,” he said. “Brian Kendall, the
city’s project manager, said this bank is one of the most successful
projects they have had in terms of the façade improvement program.”
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