Oakland County Work Release Facility
Pontiac, MI
Solid, durable, attractive and maintenance-free, masonry has been and continues to be the material of choice for Oakland County buildings. When Arcadis was challenged to design a 55,000 sq ft correctional facility that would serve for the next 100 years, the firm selected a loadbearing cavity wall system of brick and concrete block. With low life cycle costs calculated over 100 years, this system’s value and longevity far surpasses any other wall type. Interior partition walls of concrete block (cmu) provide a sturdy sound and fire barrier throughout the dormitory facility. The building’s façade features three colors of brick: a dark-red ironspot brick on the base courses; an orange-beige brick with exposed aggregate for a textured look on the body of the building; and a cream-colored smooth brick that forms the single-course bands spaced every two feet on center. The cornice also features the horizontal bands relieved into cast stone panels. This treatment of the facade creates a more human scale and helps to organize the overall massing of the building.