Was a garage conversion your initial plan?
The original intent was to renovate an existing industrial space. One of the issues was access to the building, both vertically within it and the journey patients would make from their car to the building. The journey from the parking space to the proposed renovated building was very awkward.
Which you solved with the garage across the street?
The client mentioned that they were told the garage was originally built to support more stories, so we did some research and found out we could add on top of it. The result was they could build this building and provide appropriate access for their patients. The original building just would not have worked well, and what they ended up with is ideal.
How did you approach the design?
There were interior columns in the garage which we used to extend columns up to the top deck. We put 36-inch-deep steel girders that cantilevered in two directions. So the wooden box on top of the building kind of floats and doesn't bear down on the perimeter of the garage. But then we had to worry about keeping it from tipping over laterally. The core elements that went down on either corner provided that level of bracing system from the structure. It was a neat knitting together of a number of different things.
Project: Maine Heart Surgical Associates, Portland, Maine
Architects: Harriman Associates, Portland—Patrick Costin (principal in charge), Jessica Johnson (project architect)
Cost: $1.6 million
Size: 400,000 s.f.
A few of Costin's favorite products
Nexus vessel lavatory
Toto USA
totousa.com
Costin describes this wash basin from Toto as an "elegant and simple design that works well in residential and commercial applications." The vessel measures 24 inches by 17 3/8 inches and is available with 4- or 8-inch centers or a single hole. All options are also available as a pedestal lavatory.
Cirque ceiling fan
G Squared Art
g2art.com
A halogen downlight in a brushed nickel housing plus variable-sized fan blades equals an "inexpensive, award-winning design with finish options and a quirky personality," says Costin. Sweep diameter is 54 inches for the large blades, 25 inches for the small ones. Blade finish options include brushed nickel and mahogany.
Twirl D49 floor lamp
Neenas
neenaslighting.com
Costin thinks this lamp is a "good product to use as a light sculpture in a waiting area." It features a stainless steel base, and the twisting shade is made from polyethylene. Requires one 250 watt T10 lamp. The shade comes in green, red, orange, and two shades of blue in addition to the white shown here, which is Costin's preference.
Akurum cabinet
Ikea
ikea.com
The bulk of this low-cost cabinet is formed from particleboard, fiberboard, and melamine foil. A variety of finish options include brightly colored acrylics, stainless steel, and wood veneers, but Costin prefers the Abstrakt high-gloss red because it's "inexpensive, well crafted, and sexy!"
