Project Inventory

Architecture, Other Projects Joshua Zabel Architecture, Other Projects Joshua Zabel

Carbon Fiber Bridge

The Carbon Fiber bridge was commissioned for a private residence to connect the main house to the garage across a gully. The bridge avoids directly impacting the local fauna by cantilevering 50’ from the patio structure like a diving board, requiring no additional support anywhere along its span. Installation access was another constraint due to the winding roads of the Berkeley hills and difficulties with getting any kind of equipment to the site. The bridge was made in three pieces, each light enough to be carried by hand, and then bolted together on site.

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Architecture Whitney Imura Architecture Whitney Imura

Broad Museum Oculus

The Broad Museum facade (aka the ‘veil’) features a depression creating the illusion that it dips behind the glass and re-emerges. To maintain the illusion, the portion inside the building must hang from the glass on the interior without additional external support. The exterior part of the veil is made of GFRC and a steel frame which would be too heavy to support the mullions. FRP makes a much lighter alternative and can be designed to match the finish of the exterior. The oculus was designed in 5 pieces to fit through the narrowest door to access the conference room where it was assembled and installed.

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Architecture Whitney Imura Architecture Whitney Imura

SF Moma Facade

The FRP rain screen at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is the largest FRP facade in the US to date. K&A’s patented formulation passes all code required tests including NFPA 285. Such a lightweight facade eliminated the need for over 15 tons of support structure necessary for the GFRC option allowing the FRP to be fastened directly to the unitized facade panels prior to installation reducing jobsite time and cost.

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Architecture Whitney Imura Architecture Whitney Imura

Bing Concert Hall

K&A fabricated the nine primary acoustic surfaces (aka “Sails”) on the interior of the Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University, as well as the (nearly) elliptical ceiling (aka “Cloud”). The Sails range in size from 26′ x 26′ up to 35′ x 50′, and the Cloud’s maximum length is 130′. All surfaces have compound curvature, and the Cloud has a complex sinusoidal surface articulation.

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Architecture Whitney Imura Architecture Whitney Imura

200 Powell Street

The project required FRP Parapet panels matching existing terra cotta to restore the 200 Powell Street building in San Francisco, California. In addition, the project required onsite field dimensioning and mold-making of relief pieces for the fabrication process.

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Architecture Whitney Imura Architecture Whitney Imura

Read Building

The Read Building required a polymer concrete face coat applied to female molds fabricated from the architect's CAD data. Face coat backed with fire retardant unsaturated polyester resin and E-Glass reinforcement. After removing the mold, the surface was sandblasted to achieve the desired stone finish.

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Architecture Whitney Imura Architecture Whitney Imura

Marin Academy Entry

The Marin Academy Entry FRP Entry façade is made of unsaturated polyester resin and E-Glass reinforcement with an integrally molded NPG Isothalic marine-grade gel coat. Structural FRP sandwich construction allowed for fastening to an existing wall at the perimeter through exterior flanges, which were later buried in stucco by others. Size: 28 x 16 plus miscellaneous small parts.

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Architecture Whitney Imura Architecture Whitney Imura

Prana Restaurant

The Prana Restaurant required an FRP exterior panel shape made using Art-CAM software to convert 2-D to 3-D relief patterns. CNC-mill female urethane foam molds for individual panels. Panels fabricated with fire retardant polyester resin, E-Glass reinforcement, and bronze powder-filled clear gelcoat partially removed from high areas of the mold to create discrete translucent regions when back-lit while remaining opaque during daylight hours. The Interior chandelier is made of translucent fire-retardant compound curved FRP panels arranged around a metal armature. Size: 16 ft x 40 ft facade, 12 ft diameter chandelier

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Architecture Whitney Imura Architecture Whitney Imura

San Francisco Ferry Building

The Ferry Building's historic replica elements were crafted from molds made of full-scale patterns using wood, foam, and plaster. Parts are all FRP with fire retardant unsaturated polyester resin for durability; it also contains E Glass reinforcement which means they won't break easily when struck or vibration occurs on impact! In addition, the panels have embedded steel anchors that provide enhanced stability.

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Architecture Whitney Imura Architecture Whitney Imura

Flood Building

San Francisco's Flood Building is an iconic structure renovated using only the finest materials. The renovation required FRP arches, balustrades, cornices and scrollwork, and composite veneer shells applied at parapet level to retain the building's historic flair!

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Architecture Whitney Imura Architecture Whitney Imura

Rodeo Drive Dome

The Rodeo Drive FRP dome was fabricated by pendulum carving a foam segment mold, fabricating multiple FRP segments, and assembling into two-quarter spheres with an internal-facing assembly flange to allow for transportation and simple on-site assembly. The segments were transported to Peter Veres Studio in Mendocino, CA, to apply Venetian glass tile and then to a job site. The dome was assembled on a truck bed, lifted into position, and anchored to the tension ring base.

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