Smooth, black metal panels wrap around an addition atop this cream-colored, old masonry building. The dark-colored, metal-clad form adds a modern aesthetic to the design and contrasts with the light-colored masonry building.
The project needed to reconcile two distinct architectural conditions: a reconstructed historic masonry facade, and new volumes beyond with a contrasting language. Metal panels were a cost-effective way to articulate and contrast the new construction against the masonry.
Allen Apartments recreates the facade of a severely distressed historic building with an all-new structure behind containing 10 residential units. The project features a distinctive mixture of historic and contemporary construction and various outdoor spaces of differing scales, giving each unit a unique experience. The massing respects the historic structure by gradually increasing in size as it recedes from the street.
For the project, Abraxas Inc. (Abraxas Construction) installed 557 m2 (6,000 sf) of concealed fastener metal wall panels in black. Adam Soko Architecture Practice LLC (asap) incorporated passive, sustainable features in the transit-oriented development. The building is all-electric and has high-efficiency mechanical systems, including heat pumps and solar-heated hot water. Moreover, the entire 1,115 m2 (12,000 sf) building is oriented and massed to promote energy efficiency. Through its design and massing, the building relies extensively on passive solar strategies to manage heat gain.
Owner: Mayflower Allen Property LLC, Buffalo, N.Y.
General contractor: Peyton Barlow Co. Inc., Buffalo, peytonbarlow.com
Architect: Adam Sokol Architecture Practice PLLC (asap), Los Angeles, asap.pro
Installer: Abraxas Inc. (Abraxas Construction), Grand Island, N.Y., abraxas365.com
Metal wall panels: ATAS International Inc., Allentown, Pa., atas.com