In Kansas City, Missouri, One Park Place building, formerly known as the BMA Tower, has been a landmark since Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) designed it in 1961. Originally office headquarters, the converted luxury condominium building rises 19 stories above the heart of downtown and is a visual milestone from nearly anywhere in the city. Its trademark exterior is devoid of ornamental décor, relying on white cladding and black glazing to create a minimalist Miesian aesthetic that has been celebrated in numerous building awards and a special exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2002, the building was entered into the United States National Register of Historic Places.
For the iconic building to maintain its dramatic presence in the Kansas City skyline for the greater half of the last century and receive its designation as a historic place, it was critical that the building’s understated exterior remain in top condition. This proved challenging in 1985, when the building’s original white marble cladding began to warp from the corners, causing several panels to fall from the building.
To preserve the building’s famed Modernist appearance, Black & Veatch, an engineering, procurement and construction firm out of Overland Park, Kansas, was tasked with replacing the dilapidated marble with an aesthetically similar, yet structurally improved cladding material. The firm selected white Neopariés® crystallized glass ceramic panels from Technical Glass Products (TGP).
Neopariés crystallized glass ceramic panels have a lower thermal expansion rate, meet stricter engineering guidelines and are lighter and stronger than natural stone, making them an ideal cladding material for a building subject to Kansas City’s extreme temperature changes and harsh weather conditions. Aesthetically, the crystallized ceramic panels have a bright, smooth appearance that closely resembles One Park Place’s original marble.
As an added benefit, Neopariés is virtually maintenance free, with high resistance to staining, pollution and graffiti. “I periodically have a crew wash as much of the Neopariés as they can without hanging over the side of the building,” said Mike Gunter, facilities manager, in an earlier company project write-up. “The only other maintenance required is the monitoring of the caulking.”
Today, after more than 25 years, Neopariés crystallized glass ceramic panels are still keeping the exterior of Kansas City’s landmark One Park Place in top form for city residents.
Neopariés is an ideal alternative to stone for interior and exterior walls, interior floors, counters and table tops. It is available in large, flat or curved panels, and may be used in thinner and lighter configurations than marble or granite. When combined with the Neopariés’ stainless steel anchoring system, the crystallized glass ceramic panels can help design teams create applications with enduring beauty.
For more information on Neopariés, along with TGP’s other decorative and architectural glass products, visit tgpamerica.com.
Additional Information
Project: One Park Place
Location: Kansas City, MO
Architect: Skidmore, Owings + Merrill (original), Black & Veatch (retrofit)
Product: Neopariés® crystallized glass ceramic panels
Technical Glass Products
800.426.0279
800.451.9857 – fax
sales@tgpamerica.com
www.tgpamerica.com
Related Stories
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: Work in progress—How the office environment drives innovation, SageGlass (sponsored)
SageGlass CEO Dr. Alan McLenaghan reviews how biophilic design and new technologies, such as dynamic glass, create a greater connection between the built and natural environments in the office.
Curtain Wall | Nov 4, 2015
Curved glass curtains will give Washington, D.C., office building more views and floor space
Around 900 fluted glass panes will cover 2050 M Street, which will contain television studios for CBS.
BIM and Information Technology | Aug 28, 2015
MIT researchers develop 3D printer that produces intricate glass structures
The machine uses molten glass as its “ink,” contained in a “kiln cartridge” that heats up at 1,900 degrees until it is molten and pliable.
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Aug 17, 2015
Specialty tempered glass??
Tempered glass is an excellent choice for large expanses of glass that maximize clear views while providing significant wind load and thermal stress resistance.
Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2015
AAMA updates methods for testing of exterior walls
The standard specifies test methods, specifications, and field checks to evaluate structural adequacy of exterior wall systems composed of curtain walls, storefronts, and sloped glazing.
Glass and Glazing | Jun 4, 2015
Construction of record breaking glass-bottom bridge nearly complete in China
Designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan, the white bridge is meant to look as if it is “disappearing into the clouds.”
Sponsored | | Jan 27, 2015
High-performance insulation brings design freedom, energy efficiency to urban redevelopment project
When developers of Uptown Bay City (Bay City, Mich.) began transforming the former industrial site into a mixed-use, self-sustaining riverfront community, they faced a design challenge. How could they incorporate greater expanses of glass to maximize views of the waterfront without the trade-off in energy efficiency?
Sponsored | | Dec 30, 2014
First-class glass: Designing for fire safety in schools
As more students enter the school system each year, designing for fire safety in educational facilities has never been more critical. Fire-rated glazing can be a key part of the solution.
Sponsored | | Dec 11, 2014
Fire rated glass contributes to Salt Lake City Public Safety Building’s sustainable and resilient design goals
One of the most exciting new buildings to open its doors this year is the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building Salt Lake City, Utah. This $125 million, 335,000-sf facility blends sustainability and resiliency under one roof. SPONSORED CONTENT
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Dec 11, 2014
Fire rated glazing provides visual appeal and safety to garages
When it comes to designing parking garages, providing vision and transparency might not be the priority due to fire rated code requirements – but keen architects with grand visions see opportunities rather than restrictions, thanks to the advances in fire rated glass and framing technology.