CNU – Luter Business School

CNU – Luter Business School

Application: Interiors

Building Type: Higher Education

Glave & Holmes Architects designed this elegant classic brick and stone structure for Christopher Newport University which was completed in 2013. The terrazzo flooring and precast stairs in the main lobby and 2nd floor mezzanine area create an elegant lobby to receive students for their business school education. The intricate pattern of geometric form includes a square green marble tile poured in a two-color field of Thin Set Epoxy terrazzo. The terrazzo design combined for custom terrazzo blends. Two major colors combined a field of cream terrazzo loaded with Mother of Pearl chips poured around a field of custom fabricated gold terrazzo octagons. The chip blends achieved a high degree of pop by using a combination of mirror glass and Mother of Pearl shell chips that bring the floor to life with the play on light. The divider stirp layout was intricate and tedious but defined the pattern artwork providing a beautiful symmetrical finish.

The final major design element was a beautify split staircase build with precast tread riser combination units. The stair design rises off a plinth base on both sides. The plinth was cast in place continuing the monolithic feel of the poured floor thru the plinth and up the staircase. Thin Set terrazzo is one of the oldest finished in the world with origins dating back over a thousand years from the cradle of civilization. The traditional marble chip blends are combined today in a thin set epoxy binder and accessory membranes to provide the highest level of crack mitigation and moisture mitigation from the substate. Thin Set Epoxy terrazzo provides the best of both old and new technologies continuing to provide lifetime performance.

The excellent workmanship of Pompei Inc. from Newport News executed this pattern flawlessly. This project was recognized by the NTMA as a National Award Design and Installation of terrazzo exemplifying the project as a work of art. The pattern is timeless elegant and will provide a beautiful entrance with very low maintenance cost for decades to come.