NEOLITH ®
“ The real highlight is seeing the client happy on opening day or at the first game , hearing the
crowd roar , getting excited about the building as a whole .
MATERIAL WORLD
The base of the building would be especially visible to the public , so it was important for it to be not only warm and pleasing to the eye , but also able to withstand impact and potential vandalism . The client was adamantly against using concrete , so David went in search of a different material and found Neolith ®.
With the help of distributing partner , Evolv Surfaces , patinated Iron Corten was specified around much of the Chase Center ’ s base , boasting bold , deep orange tones with plenty of embodied personality . To suit the project ’ s specific needs , Neolith customized the pattern , providing three variants in addition to the standard slab .
He explained , “ I ’ m very happy with our decision . It looks wonderful from different distances . From far away , you catch the warmth and texture of the stone panels , then , as you approach them , it gets even more interesting as you see more detail and how crisp the joints are .”
David visited the Neolith factory in Castellón to find out more about its qualities and how it ’ s manufactured .
David continued , “ When we went to the factory , I was so impressed with the material ’ s durability . If it ’ s spray-painted , it ’ s easily cleaned . If you take a screwdriver to it , it ’ s virtually impossible to damage or scratch . It was everything I wanted it to be , with the added benefit of being really beautiful to look at .”
Along with the use of PURETi , a special , photocatalytic treatment , the Neolith slabs break down greenhouse gases into harmless substances which can be easily and safely removed , contributing to the building ’ s overall sustainability credentials . The façade is cladded in 15,500 square feet of Neolith . With the special finish , this is equivalent to taking over 1,400 fossil fueled cars off the road , or planting 360 trees .
Alongside these client ’ s requirements , David wanted the new venue to be appropriate for its waterfront situation .
This is what drove his search for particular materials which would reflect the nautical history of the bay . A good example of this is to be found in the arena ’ s white metal cladding , reminiscent of the clean , modern lines of sails . With an all-encompassing design , it ’ s as if the building is spiraling in the same wind that powers boats on the water .
In contrast , the building ’ s interiors are specified in a much warmer palette . By incorporating Neolith Iron Corten , David was able to hint at what lies within , creating the illusion of the white exterior peeling away in places by including soffits and cladding in darker colors .
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