Masonry Magazine July 1970 Page. 8
About Our Cover
Cantilevered roof over glass panels at corner of Main & Curtiss Streets provides dramatic effect at new Downers Grove National Bank Building.
Downers Grove National Bank's recently completed bi-level building at Main and Curtiss Streets, Downers Grove, Illinois provides the western Chicago suburb with its most striking example of contemporary architecture.
Wight and Company, Inc., Downers Grove architects, designed the new bank with spacious lobby, high honey-comb ceilings with recessed lighting, window walls of plate glass and three customer entrances. Rekstad Builders, Inc., Downers Grove, was general contractor.
"We asked the architect to provide us with a design that would convey the open, friendly way we do business," said William H. Westrup, president.
A red brick sidewalk that surrounds the building continues into the lobby, where it meets deep-pile carpeting in the teller and customer-service areas.
Brick walls in some lobby areas contrast with a white plaster sprayed finish applied over all concrete surfaces. Black walnut wood veneers and contemporary furnishings enhance the appearance of the street level interior.
Intaglio Blocks Enhance Building
The trend to moderate cost construction using decorative materials to enhance appearance is illustrated in a two-and-a-half story apartment in Gary. Ind. This six-family apartment was completely rebuilt, using an older apartment as the base structure.
To achieve a maximum return on dollars invested, this structure is made highly attractive through use of decorative materials. These include solar screen dividers, balconies with wrought iron railings, aluminum fascia trim, and extensive use of architectural glass block. Exterior walls are of red brick and tan Roman brick laid up in offsetting arrangement.
Pittsburgh Corning Intaglio glass blocks are used in seven panels-five in front, one on each side. These incorporate a total of 1,596 Intaglio units #2 Hourglass, #3 Circle and #4 Nugget laid up to form intriguing symmetrical patterns.
Visitor to Gary apartment finds this intriguing pattern in one of three stairwells leading to upper dwelling units. Pattern is formed by Pittsburgh Corning Intaglio 2, 3 and 4. Note how the glas masonry units admit natural light.
The Intaglio grills admit natural light into three stairwells leading to the second and third floors. They also contribute to privacy, insulation, sound reduction and ease of maintenance.
Horace Cantrell, East Chicago, Ind., was the architect. Prosperity Construction Company, also of East Chicago, was the general and masonry contractor.
FOR THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING. The ideal gift-a his & her set of 31/½ cubic yard concrete mixers. (The lovely lady in the shades is not included.) On a recent program of TV's "Let's Make a Deal," these 3 1/25 concrete mixers manufactured by PCM Division of Koehring in Port Washington, Wis., represented a decided departure from the usual offerings of automobiles, mink coats, and stuffed water buffaloes presented to starry-eyed contestants.
Intaglio glass masonry panels add elegance to this sis-family apartment in Gary. Ind. A low budget construction project, the apartment was completely rebuilt, using a much older apartment as the base structure.
masonry July, 1970