The George and Judy Marcus Hall (Marcus Hall) for the Liberal and Creative Arts, by Mark Cavagnero Associates, is a fusion of glass, concrete, and steel. The 75,000-square-foot academic building combined a substantial concrete foundation with a rectangular volume of thin, recycled aluminium sheets.
Cavagnero chose aluminium insulated panels and a horizontal aluminium sunshade for the project due to their noncorrosive properties despite considering San Francisco's generally mild weather and temperature conditions. The site's proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the resulting marine airflow, and the city's famous fog were also considered.
While the building envelope's energy efficiency was prioritised in the choice of construction materials and systems, the structure's aesthetic appeal was also taken into account. The vertical placement of the white aluminium rain screen panels over the facade produces a crisscrossing pattern with substantial volumes.
The continuous insulated core manufactured within the aluminium panels adds to energy performance. All buildings benefit from the lightweight material's reduced thermal gain. Still, the west facade helps the most, where aluminium panels have been placed; accounting for the north-facing windows that further cut solar gain.
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