The new retail center was being developed in one of Central Ohio’s most exclusive shopping districts. While concrete masonry is the product of choice for such projects, ordinary architectural units would not provide the aesthetics required for this high-end project.
That’s why designers chose Spec-Brik®, a product that combines the timeless appearance of traditional brick with the construction economy of concrete masonry. According to Don Crites, Commercial Sales Manager for block producer Oberfields, Spec-Brik was a perfect fit for the colonial style brick commonly used in the upscale Easton Town Center.
“Easton is the most successful and busiest shopping and entertainment district in the Columbus, Ohio area,” says Crites. “The development serves Northeast Columbus and municipalities to the east including New Albany, an exclusive residential community and home to a number of fashion retailers. Companies like Abercrombie and Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, and The Limited have their headquarters in this section of Ohio.”
Architectural firm MulvannyG2 Architecture based in Bellevue, WA designed the new Costco, the second location for the Columbus, OH metro area. “Oberfields has worked closely with this project’s architect on other developments including an earlier Costco project and a Target retail store,” says Crites. “For this project, we were actively involved offering submittal assistance, product advice, and helping with the color selections,” he says.
The new Costco, which opened in October 2013, consists of 35-thousand 8x4x16 Spec-Brik in a beautiful “Stanton Blend” color palette. Around 18-thousand traditional split-face and smooth color architectural block are also part of the design. They are in a Cobblestone and Buff Cream color. “The new Costco sits along the freeway side of the development, which offers a great deal of drive-by exposure,” says Crites. “The shopping campus also includes a Whole Foods and a Dick’s Sporting Goods.”
All of the concrete masonry used for this project is designed to resist water penetration. Every unit includes an integral water repellent admixture added by Oberfields during the production phase. In addition, most feature “Water Control Technology”, a physical modification that creates integral drainage zones to discourage water from crossing to the interior face shell. To further ensure water resistance, masonry contractor Casagrande Masonry utilized a special water repellent mortar during installation and a high-quality masonry sealer was applied post-contruction.
This new Costco is just one more example of how Spec-Brik can meet strict design standards and provide the cost-effective construction methods needed to ensure a profitable retail development.
