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U.S. Census Bureau, Suitland, Md.

SOM's design for the U.S. census bureau headquarters makes a giant organization more accessible, even to its employees.

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U.S. Census Bureau, Suitland, Md.

SOM's design for the U.S. census bureau headquarters makes a giant organization more accessible, even to its employees.

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  U.S. Census Bureau Suitland, Md.

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  The Census Bureau building is clad in a brise soleil of wavy, laminated wood fins that are attached to a glass curtain wall, interrupted by concrete spandrels. The fins extend past the edges of the walls, creating a sinuous skin that breaks the box and enlivens the site.

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  The Census Bureau building is clad in a brise soleil of wavy, laminated wood fins that are attached to a glass curtain wall, interrupted by concrete spandrels. The fins extend past the edges of the walls, creating a sinuous skin that breaks the box and enlivens the site.

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  The Census Bureau building is clad in a brise soleil of wavy, laminated wood fins that are attached to a glass curtain wall, interrupted by concrete spandrels. The fins extend past the edges of the walls, creating a sinuous skin that breaks the box and enlivens the site.

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  White oak sunshading blades - Sentinel Structures - www.sentinelstructures.com Glue-laminated timbers - Custom curve applied to the forms during manufacturing - Strictly adheres to ANSI standards VE1-2M 1-inch insulated glazing unit with 10 percent ceramic frit - Viracon - www.viracon.com Low-E insulated glass panels - Allows 67 percent visible light transmittance, 29 percent solar transmittance - Variety of tinting and fritting options Green-tinted precast concrete spandrel panels with mica flakes - Artex Systems Prefabricated spandrel panels - Mica flakes suspended in the concrete - Concrete can be tinted to variety of standard or custom colors

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  A thoroughfare called "the Street" serves as the main circulation route. A system of bright colors painted on the upper third of the wall indicates the user's location in the 2.5-million-square-foot building. Strato Panel diffusing system - Philips - www.lighting.philips.com Changeable color temperatures and brightness - Simulates daylight and, when applied to the ceiling, skylights - Modular system - Tiles can be installed adjacently Paint - Sherwin-Williams - www.sherwin-williams.com Commercial-grade interior paint - Several hundred colors - Used here to promote wayfinding Custom-designed GRG wall panel - Formglas - www.formglas.com Glassfiber-reinforced gypsum system - Can be factory-molded into any shape or size - Field finished White terrazzo tile - D. Magnan & Co. Marble chips and dust suspended in cement or epoxy resin - Polished and matte-finished available - Variety of color options

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  Translucents ceiling panels - USG - www.usg.com Translucent infill panels - Full accessibility to ceiling above and to all utilities - Lit from behind - Class A fire rating - Compatible with several USG open-grid suspension systems Veneto Glass tile - Stonesource - www.stonesource.com Oven-strengthened glass tiles - Each tile is 3/8-inch thick with rounded corners - Available in 48 standard colors - Color applied to the back of each tile - Available in clear and satin finishes

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  Geometrix ceiling panels - USG - www.usg.com Lightweight aluminum ceiling panels - Each panel is canted to varying depths, allowing for texture and dimension on the ceiling surface - Backed with Acoustibond for better sound performance Dome pendant light fixture - Niedhardt - www.niedhardt.com Custom-designed - Structural metal shade Switch chair - Brayton - www.brayton.com Matte or polished chrome frame - Coordinating lounge and executive chairs - Solid arm, open arm, and armless options available

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  Laminated Glass Fins - Vanceva - www.vanceva.com Colored interlayer between two sheets of laminated glass - Minimum 30-gauge interlayers - Available in a variety of colors and metallics

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  Workspaces are situated near the windows on the perimeter and the interior building's courtyard to maximize daylighting for the workers. 4' linear fluorescent - Zumtobel - www.zumtobel.com Recessed linear fluorescent - Available in 4-, 8-, and 12-foot lengths - White-painted steel upper reflector Can also be configured for continuous runs Office front systems with acid-etched glass - Acme Architectural Walls - www.acmearchitecturalwalls.com Color can be applied with powder-coat paints - Custom color and acid-etching options available Optima open-plan plank ceiling - Armstrong - www.armstrong.com Impact- and soil- resistant panels - Tiles available in square as well as plank - Nondirectional DuraBrite surface increases light reflectance to provide better overall illumination Morrisson workstations - Knoll - www.knoll.com Materials palette includes metals, veneers, and fabrics - Integrated wire management system - Designed by Andrew Morrisson - Freedom Chair Humanscale www.humanscale.com Standard features include self-adjusting recline, dual-pivoting backrest, synchronized armrests, dynamic headrest, and contoured cushions - Upholstery options include 10 different lines of four-way-stretch Humanscale fabrics

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  Conference rooms, kitchens, breakout nodes, and vertical transport are located in the center of the two ribbons of the structure. Series 7 chairs - Fritz Hansen - www.fritzhansen.com Available in three finishes - 18 standard colors, six standard veneers, seven highgloss colors, and metallic silver - Designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1955

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  Workspaces are situated near the windows on the perimeter and the interior building's courtyard to maximize daylighting for the workers.

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  Workspaces are situated near the windows on the perimeter and the interior building's courtyard to maximize daylighting for the workers. Curtainwall system - Enclos Corp. - www.enclos.com Designed and engineered by specialized contractors - System flexible enough system to accommodate sinuous façade angles - Easily accommodates custom systems without compromising structural integrity Panelized tongue-and-groove ipe boards - ISEC Inc. - www.isecinc.com Cladding system fabricated by specialized contractors - Maintains envelope - Sealed to maintain color and texture of the wood