Masonry Magazine March 1980 Page. 29

Words: Rossen Neumann, Richard Frank, Ronald Morketter
Masonry Magazine March 1980 Page. 29

Masonry Magazine March 1980 Page. 29
"M" AWARDS
continued from page 8

Rossen/Neumann Associates, Southfield, the project architect. "We also wanted to convey the massive quality and the towers of the ancient temple."

The structure is designed in load-bearing masonry, with the pink/tan, 8 x 8-inch panel brick units also used for the interior of the building in an insulated cavity-wall system. (The system also includes 8-inch concrete masonry units backing up the exterior brick, and a 2-inch cavity with rigid insulation.)

"Inside the sanctuary, the hard brick material gave gave us incredible acoustics, with reverberations similar to a concert hall," Neumann said. Narrow brick corridors provide entry to the sanctuary area. Window area is limited to 12 narrow slits that relate to the original 12 tribes of Israel. The building also provides office, classroom, and kitchen facilities. Mechanical equipment is roof-mounted between two of the brick towers.


Masonry Water Tower Restoration, Kalamazoo State Hospital

This landmark structure, constructed in 1895, is a blend of Medieval Gothic and Queen Anne architecture. Its base consists of two

Historic water tower, Kalamazoo.
concentric brick masonry cylinders, 140 feet high. The cylinders, six and four feet thick at their bases, support a radial steel-beam platform upon which rests the main 220,000-gallon water tank. The beams cantilever four feet beyond the outer cylinder, providing a walk around the tank, which is enclosed by a masonry curtain wall.

In 1964, it was noted that a section of the curtain wall had bulged eight inches out of plumb, and that brick masonry below the tank also had deteriorated. For the next 10 years, the future of the structure hung in the balance. Finally, in 1975, its restoration was assured through the efforts of "The Save the Tower Committee," which raised $150,000 locally, and the Michigan History Division, which provided a $50,000 grant.

The architectural commission was awarded to Preservation/Urban Design/Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich. "We faced a twofold problem," said Richard C. Frank, FAIA, principal. "The first, and most complex, was that we could not save the curtain wall. It had to be removed and replaced. Then, the brick bearing walls below had to be repaired and cleaned." A special, oversize brick (11-4" x 8" x 3-4") was manufactured to match the original salt glazed tile units in size, color and texture. The project was completed in November, 1976.


Central Heating and Cooling Plant, University of Michigan-Flint Campus

This power plant for the University of Michigan's Flint campus was completed in September, 1978, at a construction cost of $1.4 million. The 50-foot-high, one-story structure has a steel frame. It utilizes a masonry cavity wall system an exterior of blended brick with color-matched mortar joints, 1-inch cavity, and a back-up of concrete masonry units, which are painted to provide the interior finish.

Above the exterior brick are metal insulated sandwich panels with a colored porcelain finish. Windows are bronze insulated glass; the smokestacks are of weathering steel. The site is enclosed with brick screen walls, and the master plan calls for the addition of brick coal silos as needed in the future.

"We chose brick as our primary exterior material because its warmth and human scale made the building compatible with the surrounding business and residential community," said Ronald C. Morketter, firm executive for the project's architect, Harley Ellington Pierce Yee Associates of Southfield, Mich. "We wanted to create a series of clean, crisp planes, and brick accommodated itself well to that design concept."

***

An Englishman was showing an American tourist some of the sights. "Here," said the Londoner, "we still have two cannons we captured at Bunker Hill." "Good for you," replied the American, "we still have the hill."

***

Dr. Joyce Brothers tells about the essay her daughter wrote on "Advice," subtitled "Socrates." The essay read, "Socrates was a very wise man. He went around giving advice to the people. They poisoned him."

Durable,
dependable

Gilson mortar-plaster mixers have a unique 4-paddle mixer assembly with two adjustable side blades to turn out smooth, evenly mixed batches. Heavy-duty construction features assure years of dependable service.

All drums are made from abrasion resistant Mayari-R steel. Blade shafts run on precision ball bearings that are sealed and protected to keep them grit-free. The all-welded heavy channel steel frames stand up to long use and abuse.

Choose between 3½, 5½, 7, 9, and 11 cu. ft. capacities. Call or write today: Gilson Brothers Company, Mixer Division, Box 152, Plymouth, Wisconsin 53073. Phone: 414/893-1011.

Built strong to last long.
Gilson
MASONRY/MARCH, 1980 29


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