Masonry Magazine June 1974 Page. 16
Because of the suburban nature of the 30-acre site for the Kresge Company's international headquarters, the designers decided a weathering steel curtain wall, bronze-tinted glass and complementary masonry block would best enable the complex to blend harmoniously into its environment.
S. S. Kresge International Headquarters
Troy, Michigan
Architect: Smith, Hinchman & Grylls Associates, Inc.
General & Mason Contractor: Darin & Armstrong
Landscape Architect: Johnson, Johnson & Roy, Inc.
Photography: Balthazar Korab
Public image and the respect and pride of the community are important considerations to major corporations today. These attributes are reflected remarkably well in the masonry-dominated international headquarters of S.S. Kresge Co., Troy, Mich., which recently earned an Honor Award from the Detroit Chapter of the Michigan Society of Architects.
Situated on a 30-acre site in suburban Detroit, this corporate headquarters houses a staff of more than 2,000 persons engaged in carrying out the operations of one of the world's largest retailers.
Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls Associates, Inc., Detroit-based architects, engineers and planners, the low, horizontal complex consists of 13 modules (each 100 x 100 feet) from two to four stories high. Total cost of the 500,000 square foot structure was $27 million.
Core towers containing stairs, elevators, utilities and mechanical equipment service each of the contiguous modules. Where maximum wall exposure is required, modules are connected at their corners, creating interior courts. Where large, uninterrupted spaces are needed, modules are connected at their faces.
Considering the suburban nature of the site, the architects chose a weathering steel curtain wall of Cor-Ten, bronze tinted glass and complementary masonry block units, all of which blend harmoniously with the setting. The masonry block on the service towers are specially-sized 10x16x4-in. brown "mahogany" units placed vertically in conjunction with 45-degree corner units. The color of the mahogany units, manufactured by the Glen-Gery corporation, is ideal for use with weathering steel from both appearance and maintenance standpoints.
The panel brick facing produced by Glen-Gery emphasizes the architectural concept of the building. Panel brick was utilized on the closed core tower units only and provides a visually interesting contrast between the brick and the open glassy office units.
masonry • June, 1974