WTO, USA

Summarize the project's program, features and achievements?

This 21,600 square foot facility is the US Headquarters for the German precision tool manufacturer-WTO. This building is small but extremely impactful, and has immediately become a Charlotte landmark. This 24’ clear height building is constructed with site-cast tilt-up loadbearing panels, with various architectural overlays including laser-cut aluminum panels creating complex shadows, and aluminum composite panels to frame the structural “spider- glass” curtain wall entry feature. The 24’ tall WTO Logo adds an extreme “wow factor”. Our original design was to have this WTO logo formed into the tilt-up façade so that visitors would pass through the lettering into the building. Sadly, the local zoning ordinance declared that that would constitute a sign, and violated the sign ordinance due to is large scale. Our solution then was to place the logo behind glass and therefore work around this restriction. The intriguing design has received accolades from the real estate and development community due to its unique, angular design laced with sold and void.

What obstacles were overcome related to the schedule, budget, program, specification, site, etc. on this project?

There were several challenges and obstacles with this especially with the clients’ program which was to design a bright red building, with 24’ high logo. This location was one of the first buildings in a new, multi-building park called the Concourse. The Park’s architectural review board was not at all comfortable with a bright ret building, but we finally convinced them to understand the vision. Another obstacle was for us to win the project as we were competing against other design firms. Our competition did not have clear solutions on how best to build this unique building, and by the necessary schedule constraints. However, we immediately heard the program and our clients’ vision and were the only firm to suggest that this needs to be a tilt-up concrete building. That was the factor that convinced our client to select MSA as the designer. We were able to leverage the speed of tilt-up to beat the schedule and produce a dramatic, durable and precision facility true to their stringent German requirements for precision and excellence.

Please communicate any engineering complexities or unique features of the panel design for this project?

One of the main challenges was to design a perfect, geometric cube based on a 3’ x 6’ module. But rather than a simple box, it needed to have a dynamic, impactful appearance. The solution was to recess a portion of the tilt-up façade structure, and overlay these areas with a mix of materials which maintained the flush, rectangular cube, but created an intricate lace-like pattern and complex shadows. The effect is also striking from the inside looking out as the occupants view through the laser cut panels.

What is the potential for this project's impact on the community and/or environment?

Solar Panels

Provide information on energy efficient design and construction practices, including the use of energy efficient materials and systems.

Solar PV panels over entire roof.