The fundamental idea was to create an enclosure that related to, responded to, and augmented the strong round form of the massive tank, which stands 35' tall and 85' in diameter. While at the same time relating this new appendage to the original building in a way that paid homage to the refinement of that seemingly pedestrian function which has been so gracefully expressed over 100 years ago in brick and concrete.

The datums correspond to the lines and material transitions on the existing building, and the concrete treatment responds to the classical base-middle-top organization of the original building. Weathering steel was selected as the material for the steel ribbons as it would be low-to-no maintenance and would self-finish to be in the same color palette as the reds and browns of the brick and terra cotta on the existing building.

AIA Wisconsin Merit Award - 2013