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5000 NASA Boulevard
 Architect
Omni Associates – Architects, Inc.
1543 Fairmont Avenue, #201, Fairmont, WV 26554
www.omniassociates.com
General Description
Location: Fairmont, West Virginia
Date Bid: Aug 2005
Construction Period: Aug 2005 to Aug 2008
Total Square Feet: 132,000 Site: 10 acres.
Number of Buildings: One.
Building Size: First floor, 26,000; second floor, 30,000; each
additional floor, 31,000; total, 132,000 square feet.
Building Height: First floor, 14’; second floor 14’; each
additional floor, 14’; total height, 56’.
Basic Construction Type: New/IIA Foundation:
Cast-in-place. Exterior Walls: Insulated metal panel, brick.
Roof: Membrane. Floors: Concrete. Interior Walls:
Metal stud drywall.
Construction Team
Structural Engineer: Woolpert, Inc. - 4454 Idea Center Blvd.,
Dayton, OH 45430
General Contractor: G. A. Brown & Son, Inc. - 215 Mill Street,
Fairmont, WV 26554
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Tower Engineering - 115
Evergreen Heights Drive, #400, Pittsburgh, PA 15229
Civil Engineer: Thrasher Engineering - 30 Columbia Road,
Clarksburg, WV 26301
5000 NASA Boulevard stands as the newest addition to the West Virginia
High Technology Consortium's I-79 Technology Park located in Fairmont.
The mission of the Consortium is to "foster growth and instill
sustainability" in this new technology sector. With that in mind, the
project architect, Richard T. Forren AIA, Principal and Vice President
of Omni Associates-Architects, was tasked to design two multi-tenant
structures to fit within the context of the Technology Park.
The architect's concept was to prominently position the two structures
on a long narrow site in which visibility was limited to twenty-five
percent of the total site; however, contextually, placing two structures
in such close proximity to one another was not the solution for this
park. The solution was to consolidate the separate structures so they
both could be prominently displayed.
Visibility from the extensively traveled I-79 corridor was a determining
factor in the design consideration. This established two distinctive
facades. The front facade displays the building's visual images,
features, and materials, which not only fit within the context of the
park but are also in keeping with the image of a technology structure.
This facade displays the prominent features of the building including
multi-story glass-encased semi-circular tower elements and east facing
outdoor balconies that take advantage of outstanding scenic views and
provide outdoor opportunities for tenant spaces at every floor along
with 2,200 square feet of rooftop gardens. The rear facade features more
utilitarian elements with main entrances and adjacency to the building's
parking.
The primary form of the building is two distinctive structures of a
rectangular configuration intersected by various curved forms. A large
bifurcated curve delineates the outdoor balconies while the multi-story
glass-encased semi-circular component provides symmetrical featured
elements. The two structures are physically connected on the fifth floor
by a 6,000-square-foot bridge-like conference center that further
strengthens the primary form and creates an approach that provides
visual depth as the roadway to building access and parking passes
through the structure itself. The structure is situated on the site so
that parking is concealed and the aesthetic impact of the front facade
is maximized.
Metal panels were selected as an exterior wall system in order to create
clean lines and texture representative of technology. The effect is a
21st Century look that reflects the aspirations of the owners while
complementing the existing buildings in the technology park. The panels
greatly reduced the amount of construction time and material used. They
are comprised of a steel face and liner with a foam insulating core. No
cavity wall insulation or building wrap was required with the use of
this material. Because it is relatively lightweight, it decreased dead
load support requirements. The panels consist of 22-26% recycled content
and are 100% recyclable. As an additional benefit, their superior
insulation system reduces overall energy consumption in the building.
The architect's commitment to innovation and creativity is reflected in
this unique design which also allows for flexibility in the interior
spaces in an ever-changing technology market.
Manufacturers
DIV. 7: Insulated Metal Panel: Centria; Membrane Roof:
Firestone.
DIV. 8: Curtainwall, Entrances & Storefronts, Windows:
Kawneer.
DIV. 9: Gypsum: National; Metal Stud: Marino/Ware;
Carpet: Mannington.
DIV. 14: Elevators: KONE.
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