Project Overview

City of Hope’s new outpatient center, Hope Plaza, is a beacon of light in Duarte, California, blending world-class cancer care with an architectural vision that reflects its mission and the surrounding natural beauty. The building’s design, featuring Lorin’s Light Bronze anodized aluminum, seamlessly integrates the facility with its environment while symbolizing resilience and care. This compassionate, patient-centric design serves as a new focal point on the City of Hope campus, offering cutting-edge care in a facility that radiates state-of-the-art sophistication and warmth.

CO Architects, the architectural firm behind the project, sought to embody the concept of the building as a “boulder in a stream,” metaphorically reflecting the permanence and strength of the City of Hope’s mission. The building sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, and the anodized aluminum’s dynamic interaction with sunlight was pivotal in achieving this vision. Lorin’s anodized aluminum was selected to add depth and sophistication, with its reflective quality enhancing the building’s aesthetic as the sunlight and cloud cover shift throughout the day.

Material Consideration & Selection

Ash Gharib, architect at CO Architects, explained, “We’ve used anodized aluminum in the past, and for this project, it was important to us that the material not only complement the environment but also engage with it. Lorin’s Light Bronze finish offers a depth that matte finishes couldn’t match, especially under the California sun.”

The use of Lorin’s anodized aluminum was a deliberate choice, as the architects wanted a material that would reflect the bright Californian environment while maintaining durability and low maintenance. Lorin’s Light Bronze Class II anodized aluminum was chosen for its ability to refract light in unique ways, creating a dynamic visual effect depending on the time of day or weather conditions. Additionally, for a period of 70 years, Lorin warrants that the surface of this Class II product will not chip, flake, peel, blister, crack, or split. This durability, combined with anodized aluminum’s beauty, ensures that the building’s appearance will remain vibrant for years to come.

One of the main reasons anodized aluminum was favored over paint was its ability to handle the varying light conditions around the building. Whether in bright sunlight or under overcast skies, the anodized aluminum panels shift in appearance, adapting to their environment while enhancing the building’s design. Special attention was paid to how the anodized aluminum would interact with different lighting conditions throughout the day. A mock-up panel was placed outside and photographed over several days to highlight the material’s dynamic visual qualities. Lorin’s Light Bronze anodized aluminum was chosen specifically for its ability to create varied reflections and appearances based on where viewers stand and the angle of sunlight.

These efforts paid off, as the final installation seamlessly integrates with the building’s surroundings. As one drives south from the mountains, the building’s reflective surfaces blend with the natural landscape, creating a continuous, harmonious connection between the facility and its environment. In addition to its visual appeal, Lorin’s anodized aluminum supports sustainability goals by reducing solar heat absorption, contributing to the building’s energy efficiency goals and supporting LEED certification efforts. The material’s long-term performance ensures minimal maintenance and superior resistance to weathering, which is critical for a facility like City of Hope that will be in constant use.

Project Specifications

The project utilized 67,000 pounds of Lorin’s Light Bronze Class II anodized aluminum. The panels were manufactured by Morin Corporation and installed by Nevell Group. The entire building, spanning 352,000 square feet, was clad in this anodized aluminum.The consistency of finish across such a large surface area was achieved through Lorin’s proprietary coil anodizing process, which ensures uniform color and texture. As part of this process, every square inch of the material was exposed to the same treatment, guaranteeing the high-quality finish for which Lorin is renowned.

Feedback & Future Collaborations

The feedback from City of Hope, its staff, and patients has been overwhelmingly positive. The building’s design has been praised for its elegance and ability to provide a peaceful and uplifting environment driven by the hopeful mission of the center. Given the success of this project, CO Architects is likely to continue collaborating with Lorin on future designs. The durability, aesthetic appeal, and sustainability of anodized aluminum have made it a material of choice for the firm, particularly in environments where natural light and reflections are key elements of the architectural vision.

Conclusion

The City of Hope outpatient center stands as a testament to the power of thoughtful material selection in architecture. Lorin’s anodized aluminum was instrumental in achieving the design goals of CO Architects, offering a sophisticated and sustainable solution that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of all stakeholders involved. As the sun moves across the sky each day, Lorin’s anodized aluminum panels will continue to reflect the brilliance of hope that the City of Hope represents.

Feature Image Courtesy of: Lorin Industries