flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Embassy's dual façades add security and beauty

Embassy's dual façades add security and beauty


August 11, 2010
This article first appeared in the 200912 issue of BD+C.

The British government's new 46,285-sf embassy building in Warsaw, Poland's diplomatic quarter houses the ambassador's offices, the consulate, and visa services on three floors. The $20 million Modernist design by London-based Tony Fretton Architects features a double façade—an inner concrete super structure and an outer curtain wall. The building-within-a-building addresses safety and security concerns, but also serves as a thermal buffer during harsh Polish winters and as a thermal chimney to draw out warm air during the summer. The glazing has a silver coating and aluminum cladding has a bronze finish to soften the building's massing.

Related Stories

Smart Buildings | Oct 1, 2020

Smart buildings stand on good data

The coming disruption of owning and operating a building and how to stay ahead through BIM.

Building Technology | Jun 29, 2020

Location intelligence distinguishes new SaaS offering

Inertia Platform provides a visual and map-centric approach to jobsite management and Building Team collaboration.

Multifamily Housing | Apr 23, 2020

Tankless water heaters: 12 things to know about these energy savers for multifamily housing

Twelve factors to consider in using tankless water heaters in multifamily housing.

Coronavirus | Apr 21, 2020

COVID-19 update: CallisonRTKL, Patriot, PODS, and USACE collaborate on repurposed containers for ACFs

CallisonRTKL and PODS collaborate on repurposed containers for ACFs

Coronavirus | Apr 10, 2020

COVID-19: Converting existing hospitals, hotels, convention centers, and other alternate care sites for coronavirus patients

COVID-19: Converting existing unused or underused hospitals, hotels, convention centers, and other alternate care sites for coronavirus patients 

Healthcare Facilities | Mar 9, 2020

Mobile wayfinding platform helps patients, visitors navigate convoluted health campuses

Gozio Health uses a robot to roam hospital campuses to capture data and create detailed maps of the building spaces and campus.

University Buildings | Mar 9, 2020

Auburn University, Robins & Morton open Construction Field Laboratory

Robins & Morton and Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) recently celebrated the dedication of the Robins & Morton Construction Field Laboratory.

Modular Building | Feb 16, 2020

On the West Coast, prefab gains ground for speedier construction

Gensler has been working with component supplier Clark Pacific on several projects.

AEC Tech | Feb 13, 2020

Exclusive research: Download the final report for BD+C's Giants 300 Technology and Innovation Study

This survey of 130 of the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms tracks the state of AEC technology adoption and innovation initiatives at the AEC Giants.

Sponsored | HVAC | Feb 3, 2020

Reliable Building Systems Increase Net Operating Income by Retaining Tenants

Tenants increasingly expect a well-crafted property that feels unique, authentic, and comfortable—with technologically advanced systems and spaces that optimize performance and encourage collaboration and engagement. The following guidance will help owners and property managers keep tenants happy.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




Contractors

Contractors expect to spend more time on prefabrication, according to FMI study

Get ready for a surge in prefabrication activity by contractors. FMI, the consulting and investment banking firm, recently polled contractors about how much time they were spending, in craft labor hours, on prefabrication for construction projects. More than 250 contractors participated in the survey, and the average response to that question was 18%. More revealing, however, was the participants’ anticipation that craft hours dedicated to prefab would essentially double, to 34%, within the next five years.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021