GOOGLE'S
St. John's Terminal
Google has chosen NECE interference electrocoloring and brushing for the aluminum structure of the facades of its extraordinary new headquarters in New York.
NECE confirms itself as a world leader in the creation of new colors and new finishes for aluminium, which arise from the fusion of high craftsmanship and advanced technology which also allows for considerable production capacity.
The continuous investment in research and development has produced unique electro-colors, called “dynamic colors” by the architects, with a variable chromatic effect depending on the light intensity and the observer’s visual angle.
To attract the best talents to New York, Google wanted to create an irresistible workplace: river views, fresh air, abundant vegetation and joyful and comfortable design.
With an investment of 1.6 billion dollars, Turner Construction has built the main building of the Google Campus with an area of 120,000 square meters, which will house up to 14,000 employees.
New York’s former St. John’s Terminal (rail freight terminal), located in the west village of Manhattan, was a freight hub from 1934 to 1960; through the elevated High Line, which in recent years has become a historical-cultural walkway with a clear and unobstructed view of the Hudson River, today it becomes a model for the working environment of the future.
The high-performance building, designed in biophilic design, prioritizes the health and well-being of the occupants: with electrochromic glass installed by W&W Glass, known for its ability to control sunlight, which adapts to the weather.
Alphabet, the US holding company to which Google belongs, assisted by the award-winning architecture studio Cookfox (who proudly worked on the project for over 10 years), has chosen NECE Anodizing as it is internationally renowned for its ability to develop new colors through the exclusive technology of Interference Electrocoloring combined with a high level of production capacity.
LOCATION: 550 Whashington St, Hudson Square, Manhattan, NY USA
AREA: 120.000 smq
FACADE: 8.000 square meters of aluminum laminated only
CLIENT: Za.com coc.cons. a r.l.
ARCHITECTURE STUDIO: Cookfox Architects
YEAR: 2019-2022
COLOR: Interference Electrocoloring light gray SD90G
FINISH: Linear brushed SD
CLASS: 20 µm
ANODIZED MATERIAL: Extruded profiles for facades, building envelope panels
NECE’s consultancy produced multiple variations of light gray and a huge mockup of over 100 square meters, which allowed a panel of 40 expert technicians to establish the choice of color with a customized SD90G code.
The panels of the double skin system and the aluminum profiles of the facades, anodized according to the American standards of the I class AAMA 20 micron, on behalf of Za.com, were made in linear brushed finish SD as they were installed horizontally in St. John’s Terminal , combined with the interference with the sunset, creates spectacular iridescent chromatic effects.
NECE Anodizing, for this particular project, has created a working schedule on the product, with all the relative checks and their frequency, releasing the Anodizing Treatment Certificate.
In addition, to best meet the needs of the project, NECE has invested in new brushing and packaging machinery for large surfaces; this is a constant that will lead to doubling the production area in the coming years.