50 Year Old Buckminster Fuller Project Gets a $7 Million Upgrade

Posted By Tafline Laylin On November 8, 2011 @ 6:50 pm In Architecture,News | 1 Comment

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Anything that has a Buckminster Fuller ^[6] stamp on it gets our attention, so when we learned that ASM International's ^[7] headquarters in Russell Township received a $7 million upgrade, we had to tune in. Metropolis magazine ^[8] reported that when Terence Kelly's original crescent-shaped building, which was complemented by Bucky Fuller's largest dome, turned 50 in 2009, it became eligible for a National Register of Historic Places ^[9] listing and $2.5 million in tax credits. So ASM decided to take advantage of the government's tax break by giving the building at least another 50 years of life! Scott Pease ^[10] sent us a set of beautiful images of Bucky Fuller's dome and the newly-renovated headquarters, available for your viewing pleasure right after the jump!

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The Ohio Historic Preservation Office ^[11] in Columbus and the National Park Service ^[12] in Washington, D.C. were responsible for making sure that Dimit Architects ^[13] – who were brought on board to mostly service the interior furnishings – preserved all of the original building materials ^[14] and retain the project’s historic integrity. According to Metropolis, these included copper fin-tub radiators, a large single pane of plate glass, and open tread stainless steel stairways.

The geodesic dome – possibly the largest in the world at 250 feet in diameter – has undergone previous tuneups and was therefore left untouched during this renovation. But it remains structurally sound, and gives the offices its undeniably rich visual presence!

+ Dimit Architects ^[13]

Via Metropolis Magazine ^[8]

All images courtesy of Scott at Pease Photography ^[10]

Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com

URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/50-year-old-buckminster-fuller-project-in-ohio-gets-a-7-million-upgrade/

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[6] Buckminster Fuller: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminster_Fuller

[7] ASM International's: http://www.asminternational.org/portal/site/www/

[8] Metropolis magazine: http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20111018/a-second-chance

[9] National Register of Historic Places: http://www.nps.gov/nr/

[10] Scott Pease: http://www.peasephotography.com/

[11] Ohio Historic Preservation Office: http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/histpres/

[12] National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/index.htm

[13] Dimit Architects: http://www.dimitarchitects.com/

[14] original building materials: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_material

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