Close to two hundred years after being chartered by Congress, George Washington University forges on in its ambitious trek to graduate forward-thinking students aiming to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Subscribing to the notion of sustainable design, the university's new addition features a seven-story open interior composed of concrete and bamboo panels - achieving an urban aesthetic with the added comfort of LEED platinum certification.
The clever use of concrete intertwined with wooden panels make for quite a challenge during installation, however, the tight radius through the building was the biggest difficulty to overcome.
The main structure - comprised almost entirely of concrete - hosts a unique contrast between the cold staunch concrete and Rulon International's bamboo veneer Aluratone panels. The rounded corners create distinct classroom separations and visual interest while maintaining acoustical performance.
A combination of grooved acoustical (perforated) and grooved non acoustical (non-perforated) panels help neutralize noise in the busy lobby. In the auditorium, however, three different types of acoustical panel products worked in conjunction with flat veneered panels to minimize reverb from the concrete structure.
