Last-Minute Stone Solution for a Modern Design

Words: Dan Kamys

PAVERS, THIN BRICK/STONE AND THIN VENEER

By Cindy Loosemore

BBVA Compass bank BBVA Compass bank

Project Details: BBVA Compass

Product:   ARRIS·clip Renaissance® Champagne (Smooth and Rocked) Architect:    Ziegler Cooper Architects Architects for the BBVA Compass bank envisioned a modern façade, clad mostly with metal panels. However, the city of Kingwood, Texas, rejected the plan during the building permit phase, as all new buildings there are required to be clad with a defined percentage of masonry to preserve the design and architectural integrity of the community. The original design did not come close to meeting this requirement, so a last-minute solution was needed. This unexpected requirement so late in the process presented a significant challenge. The architects knew that masonry simply wouldn’t do what the metal panel would. Typically, masonry is not hung off the substrate, as it’s too heavy. Natural stone was a brief consideration, but since the budget had already been set for the metal panel option, it was far too expensive. Fortunately, Arriscraft’s ARRIS·clip Renaissance was an option for the design team. This thin stone product could be hung off the substrate, like metal panels, and would be less expensive than a natural stone assembly. Thin units are clipped to a substrate using a pre-engineered channel system, offering an easy and efficient means of installation. Due to the challenging design, the Arriscraft team worked closely with the designers to maintain their original vision — taking them step by step through this process of using stone instead of metal. Following are a few specific areas that had to be addressed with the design teams:
  • Sloping wall: required sloping corner units.
  • Alignment (between sloping and vertical walls): units in the sloping wall had to align with the straight vertical units in the non-sloping walls (all units are produced in standard heights, and when you slope them, they’re shorter in the vertical direction).
  • Soffit conditions: transitioning from the vertical walls to the soffit and running the stone over the ribbon windows.
ARRIS·clip Renaissance Units offered the installers scheduling flexibility, as they did not have to be installed sequentially. Because the city of Kingwood has a tendency toward extreme weather, ARRIS·clip Renaissance Units provided protection against various extreme conditions, allowing heat and cold to became minor factors in the construction of the veneer. ARRIS·clip Renaissance Units maintain a drainage cavity behind the units, making them suitable for wet or dry areas, as well as those exposed to freeze-thaw cycles. Replacement of broken, damaged or graffiti-stained material is easy and quick, further enhancing the cost-efficiency and benefits of this system. Arriscraft collaborated with the design team to work through all of the building’s challenges and details. Technical staff created shop drawings for the entire stone façade, laid everything out and detailed it to make sure nothing was left to chance. Arriscraft’s staff mason visited the site for the first few days of construction to ensure the installers were on the right track and installing the material properly. This project is a great example of Arriscraft’s customized service and collaborative nature. This product also shows the design community that stone is not “rustic” or “old-fashioned”; it suits modern designs and can be used in a similar fashion to metal panels. Arriscrafts’s thin products allow designers to use the lighter-weight stone in areas where full-bed stone may not be the best option. For further information, visit www.arriscraft.com.
Cindy Loosemore is a freelance writer. She can be reached at cindyloosemore@rogers.com.
Australian Bricks vs American Bricks: What 24 Hours of Travel Teaches You About the Trade
June 2026

Bricklaying might not change simply because you cross a state line. It does change when you travel 24 hours to the other side of the world and lay bricks under lights, cameras, and a stopwatch. The fundamentals of the trade are universal. Brick, mortar,

Technical Talks
Read More
2026 Masonry Foundation Grants Now Open
June 2026

The Masonry Foundation is dedicated to advancing the masonry industry and is accepting grant applications for 2026. Proposals should have national reach and aim to generate substantial progress within the masonry industry. To explore examples of past gra

Justin Stengel
Industry News
Read More
The “Small Job” Safety Trap: Why Safety Sometimes Fades When the Spotlight Disappears
June 2026

Before I was fortunate enough to lead Malta Dynamics, I spent a couple of years as a traveling salesman for the company. My territory covered the entire country (and some beyond), and in a typical year, I visited more than 100 jobsites across nearly every

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
June 2026

As a business owner and leader, taking the mental health of your employees seriously and understanding how it can impact their work is essential. In fact, one in five adults experiences a mental health condition annually. Addressing mental health is more

Patrick Cunningham
MAP Partner
Read More