Fired clay terracotta - the material of antiquity, re-inspired in a fully modern form. Natural clay rainscreen - the ideal medium for sustainable recladding and retrofit applications. Given the historical presence of natural clay building materials in the US architectural experience and resume, it is no surprise that terracotta rainscreen is quickly becoming the ideal material for renovation for a variety of applications nation-wide. As sustainable architecture continues to engage with the opportunity of 'reclaiming' existing structures for a greener, more energy efficient future, the drained and back-ventilated rainscreen wall design, coupled with the timeless aesthetic of natural clay terracotta, is a dynamic, thoroughly modern solution for sustainable design.

Often with a retrofit or reclad situation, one of the most significant challenges lies in the structural limitations of the existing building structure. That was certainly one of the considerations for Geoffrey Brooksher, AIA, the senior associate at 4240 Architecture responsible for the material selection and design of the 200 Fillmore Street reclad. Since the concrete floor slabs of the existing four storey structure were not up to current code regulations, 4240 was limited to cladding systems that weighed no more than 10 pounds per square foot. Cladding Corp worked with 4240 in the selection of a light-weight terracotta rainscreen system that would meet the structural requirements of the reclad.

Designed out of both the Chicago and Denver offices of 4240 Architecture – the existing office building, known locally as "The Cheese Grater Building", underwent a complete retrofit in 2005 and emerged skinned in a natural red terracotta rainscreen that provided the warmth of brick in a cutting-edge, energy efficient design.

The terracotta panels, provided by Cladding Corp in a natural terracotta red color, were installed with an engineered horizontal rail system also supplied by Cladding Corp. The courses of baguette sunscreen, also in a natural terracotta red color, utilized an innovative and unique floating terracotta attachment clip system.  Given the extreme UV conditions at that elevation, the design team at 4240 also incorporated the baguette sunscreen at the tops of the windows to help improve energy efficiency for the building overall. 

Profiled in Joann Gonchar’s article in Architectural Record - “Rainscreen Facades Are More Than Skin Deep,” the 200 Fillmore Street installation stands as a case study on some of the benefits of recladding existing structures with a visually inspiring, technically efficient terracotta rainscreen system.