For a progressive medical facility, the building's exterior needed to be more than just a pretty facade. Crossville's gauged porcelain tile panels provided the right solution befitting this high profile location.
Located in the heart of Santa Monica and directly across the street from the prestigious UCLA Medical Center, the Santa Monica Medical Plaza is a 14-story facility that was built in 1971. More than 40 professional healthcare tenants treat thousands of patients daily within this facility. The aging building underwent a multi-million dollar interior renovation in 2005, but the exterior of the facility went without update for more than another decade following. At last, it came time to upgrade the exterior to ensure that the stage is set for patients and professionals who come to the Plaza anticipating a positive, modern healthcare environment.
For the property owners, it was essential to have an exterior facade that would withstand challenging weather conditions—and look good doing it. Crossville’s gauged porcelain tile panels were chosen to skin the exterior of the medical plaza. More than just a pretty facade, the Crossville porcelain panels serve as a formidable, non-load bearing layer that serves to protect the building from the effects of weather.
With the ability to skin a variety of surfaces, Crossville’s porcelain panels offer many unique benefits that made them an ideal specification for this highly visible medical facility. The design team opted to incorporate the aesthetically appealing Filo collection* in Rubino to cover the exterior surfaces. The Filo panels offer a chic, urban appearance. With outer dimensions of 1m x 3m, these generously proportioned panels install efficiently with minimal joints, helping to achieve a sleek, uninterrupted look for the building’s cladding.
In terms of installation, the project proved particularly challenging due to the height of the application and necessity to meet California’s strict seismic codes. The contractor’s in-house licensed structural engineer focused on the installation details to design the best approach. Based on his assessments, the installation team employed recommended setting materials along with a mechanically fastened system to hold the cladding in place.
The product specification and exacting installation methods achieved the desired results. The facade is beautifully applied and offers a contemporary, appealing aesthetic. Today, the exterior of Santa Monica Medical Plaza gives a first impression befitting the quality of services and care offered within.
For the property owners, it was essential to have an exterior facade that would withstand challenging weather conditions—and look good doing it. Crossville’s gauged porcelain tile panels were chosen to skin the exterior of the medical plaza. More than just a pretty facade, the Crossville porcelain panels serve as a formidable, non-load bearing layer that serves to protect the building from the effects of weather.
With the ability to skin a variety of surfaces, Crossville’s porcelain panels offer many unique benefits that made them an ideal specification for this highly visible medical facility. The design team opted to incorporate the aesthetically appealing Filo collection* in Rubino to cover the exterior surfaces. The Filo panels offer a chic, urban appearance. With outer dimensions of 1m x 3m, these generously proportioned panels install efficiently with minimal joints, helping to achieve a sleek, uninterrupted look for the building’s cladding.
In terms of installation, the project proved particularly challenging due to the height of the application and necessity to meet California’s strict seismic codes. The contractor’s in-house licensed structural engineer focused on the installation details to design the best approach. Based on his assessments, the installation team employed recommended setting materials along with a mechanically fastened system to hold the cladding in place.
The product specification and exacting installation methods achieved the desired results. The facade is beautifully applied and offers a contemporary, appealing aesthetic. Today, the exterior of Santa Monica Medical Plaza gives a first impression befitting the quality of services and care offered within.
