Arizona State University Interdisciplinary Science & Technology Building IV

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1 Arizona State University Interdisciplinary Science & Technology Building IV A Case Study All photos courtesy of Ehrlich Architects/HDR Architecture, Inc.

2 Atrium view from above Can floor covering change the experience of a building s interior? Will it invite a variety of people including astronomers, physicists and individuals within a college community to be part of an educational transformation? Or how about communicate a dedication to earth sciences and active space missions? That s precisely how Arizona State University is using Milliken carpet tile in its newly constructed Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building. Read on to learn more about how Milliken brought realistic crater formations to life in the university s School of Earth & Space Exploration atrium. Because the atrium served as a focal point for the building, it really drove how we designed the lowest floor, since it would be viewed from all the floors above. It was helpful to have worked with the Milliken team before and have a history of customized projects under our belts. Our relationship supported collaborative activities, and they knew what we were looking for. - Patricia Rhee, AIA, associate at Ehrlich Architects 2

3 Atrium The Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV supports and sustains research for Arizona State University s School of Earth & Space Exploration and houses astronomers, physicists and system engineers. Additionally, it was designed to increase science and technological literacy among faculty and students, as well as individuals in other disciplines at the Phoenixbased campus. Ehrlich Architects, a leading design and architecture firm in Los Angeles, designed the new building with a very specific vision in mind. The ground level serves as a common denominator for the entire venue and can be seen from the open center of each of the building s seven floors. Ehrlich s goal was to design a carpet that would tie all levels together, while combining gallery space with interactive areas, from the first floor. The carpet tile installed in the Science and Technology Building IV covers an area of 54 feet x 33 feet (approximately 7,000 square yards) and was required to: Perform highly, ensuring that the carpet would withstand years of high foot traffic Offer the ability for a small section to be easily replaced Feature a pattern that was large enough to be visible from a distance but also incorporate small repeats which could be viewed and enjoyed by people on all levels 3

4 We wanted to offer those who inhabit the space an informal learning center. In the end, it was a fun challenge to see how we could incorporate beautiful imagery into an environment that would be appreciated, understood and learned by many. - Patricia Rhee, AIA, associate at Ehrlich Architects Students working in the atrium The Theme Earth & Science Exploration Milliken designers were tasked with incorporating 3-D pictures taken from a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera of meteor impact craters into the carpet tiles. To achieve an authentic look, the flooring needed to replicate the gradients, scale, shades and colors found in the high-resolution photography. Because these craters are a constant throughout the solar system from the moon to Mercury the realistic images could also be used for teaching purposes for visitors and occupants of the building. Therefore, accuracy was crucial. Milliken s hi-resolution large-scale printing capabilities and color palette enabled a photo-realistic interpretation of crater formations on each tile. When placed together at installation, 20 separate tile designs combine to create a unique mosaic. Milliken was an ideal fit because its products, expertise and capabilities offered: A large scale carpet tile (1 meter x 1 meter in size) designed for several different installation methods Variety of textured, loop bases that showcased the hi-resolution images when manufactured with Milliken s broad range of colorways A wear rating for severe traffic applications Custom broadloom was not a cost-effective solution. If we d just taken a picture and cut the tiles, we would have been working with 240 tile designs instead of 20. We won this project because of our technology, and we were able to bring this vision to life, " states Holly Lester, Milliken Sales Associate. 4

5 Students working in the atrium Through a marriage of creative design thinking, science and technology, Milliken worked with the university to create a one-of-a-kind, yet cost effective, flooring solution (affectionately called Crater Carpet ) that offers a great presence within the building, while also inspiring discussions, commentary and thoughts among a community. As a team, Milliken and Ehrlich Architects delivered a flooring solution that supports the interior of Building IV from the ground up. Every day, this floor provides first impressions, influences emotions and offers a backdrop for memories, interactions and learning experiences. This project was an interesting case study for creative problem-solving. The customer knew exactly what they wanted and we were challenged to identify the product, base and technology that would serve as the best solution, while also offering a fast turn around at a reasonable cost. - Lisa Bailey, designer for Milliken 5

6 Atrium staircase Visit millikencarpet.com for more information. Customer Concierge (USA and Canada)