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Farmington, Conn.
Barkow Leibinger Architects
Photography © Paul Warchol
A building that proclaims the spirit
of enterprise
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"The
building is a classical Miesian pavilion, surrounded
by support space, brought into the 21st century."
—Steve Goldberg, FAIA,
Partner, Mitchell Giurgola Architects
Architect
Barkow Leibinger Architects; Casle Corporation
casle.com
(associate architect)
Client
Trumpf America
Key
Player(s)
Szewczak Associates (structural); Quinlan, Giannoni
and Livingston (mechanical); Casle Corporation
(general contractor)
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Program:
Trumpf Customer and Technology Center is the American subsidiary
of a European-based manufacturer of high-tech laser machine
tools. Originally intended as a training center for machine
operators, the acceleration of sales in the U.S. prompted
the decision to change the program to include client demonstration
and sales. The new building lies within a suburban industrial
office park, where a large pond and extensive natural wetland
areas are maintained. To serve a customer center, it was imperative
to improve the pedestrian circulation from the existing buildings
to the new one.
Solution:
The building is large enough to demonstrate the company's
entire range of products and services and includes a presentation
theater, employee cafeteria, dining for clients, a lobby,
conference rooms, and offices. A new central walkway that
terminates in a terraced stair to the pond's shore unites
the separate buildings of the site into a campuslike assemblage
and improves circulation. A hierarchical office structure
has been replaced by a design that emphasizes collaborative
work and maximizes a larger cross section of the company's
talent. Each month, more than 20 groups of customers visit
the center, and three out of every four purchase a machine
or service from the client—a 50 percent increase from the
time prior to construction of the facility.
For more images please see the November
2002 issue or Architectural Record.
The Winners: Abercrombie
& Fitch | Allsteel
| Cellular Operations
| Gateshead
Millenium Bridge | Multi-Use
Centre | Paul
Brown Stadium | Texas
Children's Hospital | Toys
"R" Us | Trumpf
Customer & Technology Center | Univ.
of Penn. Dept. of Facilities and Real Estate | Valeo
Electrical Systems
The Finalists:
Arcs
de Seine | Boeing\
Leadership Center | Gasometer
B | Hansen
Construction Office | ING
Direct | KeySpan
Park Stadium | Matha
Stewart Living
Unbuilt Projects:
BMW Event and
Delivery Center | Hollister
Headquarters
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