Project Gallery
Orville L. Freeman Office Building, St. Paul, Minn.


Location:
St. Paul, MN


Designer:
HGA

Owner:
State of Minnesota

Contractor:
Adolfson & Peterson Construction

Area:
178,000 square feet

Project Type:
Office building and laboratory

This two-building, state-of-the-art complex combines functions for the state's Agriculture and Health departments, with the goal of stimulating opportunities for shared information, knowledge and facilities. The office structure connects to the adjacent laboratory facility via a skyway on the third level,enhancing efficiency further.

The creation of a humane, uplifting office image was the key goal, and architectural precast concrete panels helped to achieve that. The structures needed to blend with existing buildings on the campus, and they were clad with granite or limestone cast into precast panels. The building contains both insulated and noninsulated panels in varying locations.

Early in the process, it was determined that some portions of the west elevation would not be able to be use limestone on the façade due to budget concerns. As a result, the precaster worked with the designers to create a limestone-like finish for the panels that complemented the limestone used in other locations on the project. The adjacent laboratory also was clad with limestoneclad precast panels.

The panels' architectural mixes had to complement the multiple shades of limestone. The precaster provided dark red polished and acid-etched panels that encompassed the base of the building. The sills and opening heads featured a black, acid-etched panel that was inset into the stone-clad spandrels. Insulated architectural panels with an acid-etch finish that created a tan tone was used on the penthouse, providing contrast with the rest of the building.