CV Starr, East Asian Library | Tactile Materials

Tactile Materials is an international company dedicated to the supply and production of customized metal cladding for architectural endeavors. One of the main uses for Tactile Materials is public facades for institutional buildings, such as the facades of the C.V. Starr East Asian Library.

The design of the building required conformance with the UC Berkeley master plan, but the building developed its own identity by utilizing unique materials that correlate with the use of the space. Facade elements include large bronze cast screens with stainless steel catwalks, which provide shading and an iconic feature to the building. The stone cladding utilizes an open joint rain screen system, resulting in clean sightlines and integration of adjacent materials, including flat seam copper panels, bronze-clad window walls, and lead-coated copper accent panels at the parapet area. Although the building has large proportions, the facade materials, sightlines, and the “cracked ice” and “rectilinear” patterns of the bronze grilles diminish the volume’s visual mass.

Tactile Materials took care of the consulting services including material applications and sourcing, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration of all facade elements and waterproofing. Production of the Tactile Cast Bronze screens, formed bronze trim and stainless steel catwalks.

The C.V. Starr East Asian Library faces Memorial Glade, the heart of the Berkeley campus.