The technical challenge of a façade designed to impress

Lakeside is a well-known commercial bank in the Chicago area, Illinois. As part of the refurbishment process of some of their offices, specifically the Oakbrook Terrace office, they hired the services of the architectural studio Pappageorge Haymes Ltd. From the very beginning, the studio planned a modern, interesting façade that would catch the eye of passers-by, inviting them to look at it.

The execution of a stunning façade required a high quality material. Pappageorge had worked with natural stone in the past, but problems always arose because of its poor UV resistance and technical limitations. The studio had heard about the technical properties of DKTN on exterior façades and was keen to learn more.

The Cosentino team met with Pappageorge architects, provided material samples and designed a mock-up featuring the XL 45 system. In this rainscreen system, aluminum rails are anchored to the back of the DKTN slab by horizontal grooves. In the end, DKTN was the material of choice for the versatility it offered in such a complex project. Stone Systems of Chicago, a certified fitter knowledgeable of the material, was in charge of the execution of the project.