Neolith brings out the best in the Chase Center
Mission Bay, USA
A façade worthy of a
warrior
warrior
Project location: | Mission Bay, USA |
Project type: | Facade |
Neolith materials: |
Neolith Iron Corten |
A well-planned arena offers so much to a community beyond access to sporting events. It also serves as a music venue, supports local vendors and artists, creates jobs, provides social spaces and draws in tourists in turn supporting local businesses. So, when the Golden State Warriors looked to move to San Francisco from their previous home venue in Oakland, ensuring smooth integration within the Mission Bay locale was a top priority.
While the team was based in San Francisco for a brief stint in the 1960s, the city they were returning to was much changed. Mission Bay is a modern neighborhood, characterized by large, hard-edged buildings the size of city blocks, creating a dense urban environment.
When David Manica, lead designer and architect at Manica Architecture, was brought on the project, the brief from the city and the Warriors was clear: the building needed to be sympathetic to and in contrast with the area. It had to be simultaneously futuristic and timeless in its aesthetic. Crucially, the client also wanted a 360° design with no back entrance or rear façade. This way, the arena would feel inviting from every angle.
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.
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.
A building with
a unique personality
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.
a unique personality
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.
"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 Manica - Manica Architecture
David visited the Neolith factory in Castellón to find out more about its qualities and how it’s manufactured.
"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."
- David Manica - Manica Architecture
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.
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.
What goes around
David and his team opted for a round building. By employing seamless curves throughout the large venue, they were able to soften some of the locality’s rigid aesthetic.
Complementing this, Manica Architecture worked carefully with the city and the Warriors to ensure the surrounding space was subtle and inviting as well.
For such a large project, David found working with city planners a valuable resource. By finding common ground between them, David was able to push the project forward successfully.
"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. It’s really why I do what I do, being part of history in the making."
- David Manica - Manica Architecture
Speaking on both the work carried out by Manica Architecture and Evolv’s involvement, James Amendola, Neolith’s VP of North America, said, “We are thrilled to have been selected for what can only really be described as a landmark project, and to have worked with such a talented and much sought-after design firm. We also continue to be impressed by our distributing partner, Evolv, without whom Neolith’s inclusion in this project would not have been possible. They truly went above and beyond to provide all the necessary material and ensure the process was a smooth one, and we are thankful for their assistance throughout.”