Krause Gateway Center
Architectural Wall Systems
Recognitions:
2019 AIA Iowa Craft Award
Project Description
Krause Gateway Center serves as the headquarters for Kum & Go and other Krause Group companies. At the heart of the design was the desire for a light-filled space that opened a dialogue between those who work in the building, the public and the city. The building’s nearly all-glass envelope was key to bringing this design to life.
The façade achieves a sleek, simple and elegant look, while incorporating some of the tallest glass lites and most robust curtainwall systems in the country. All six floors have unobstructed 360-degree views and are separated by four horizontal planes. 29-foot-tall insulated glass units, intense structure coordination and engineering, and exceptional field preparation and installation required innovation to be at the core of this project.
With large overhangs, the glazing systems are set back under the structure. This gave crews very limited space to install the insulated glass units – within mere inches of the structure. Collaboration between engineering and field, including mock-ups, configuration of custom glazing equipment, and trial runs with steel plates enabled those installing the system to be precise, efficient, and safe.
Once in place, interfacing building finishes almost completely hide the curtainwall anchorage connections, giving the appearance of the glass simply floating in place. Minimal metal was used in the system design to further enhance views. Instead, the vertical glass lites are supported by glass fins, which is a solution that can be found throughout the façade.
With the architect’s vision at the forefront and an unshakeable dedication to completing a groundbreaking project, teams dared to do what had never been done before. Innovative solutions were born out of collaboration, trial and error, and a passion for building incredible buildings. Krause Gateway Center showcases what hard work, innovation, and excellent craftsmanship is capable of accomplishing in architecture and design.