Oakland Schools Office & Conference Center
Waterford, MI
This building’s curvilinear profile was developed in direct response to an awkwardly shaped site bordered by wetlands and a neighboring commercial complex. Concrete masonry allowed the designers to give the building a fluid, sculptural appearance both inside and out. Alternating bands of orange-brown Sedona, rich tan Canyon Blend and Great White burnished block provides texture and contrast against a glass curtain wall. Exterior masonry wraps into the three-story atrium lobby, enhancing the open feeling of the building and its relationship to the outdoors. Conference hall walls of integrally colored burnished block are durable enough to withstand exhibition traffic and provide a gracious backdrop for more formal events.