Case Studies

Center for the Intrepid, National Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center at Fort Sam Houston near San Antonio, Texas is a sentiment of patriotism to the many service men and women who have been severely injured serving our country. The four-story, 65,000-square-foot project accommodates the most sophisticated amputee rehabilitation technology through the use of advanced prosthetics, computerized and video monitoring for biomechanical studies, virtual reality, robotics and simulators.

The design team and owner wanted a monumental-looking building in appreciation for the sacrifice that these soldiers have made. Because of this, Carnelian^® granite was selected.

As a material, the team felt that it symbolizes strength and allowed them to paint a picture as a tribute, through the use of a subtle red, white and blue palette.

Fast track project; 18 months from inception to completion. More than 38,000 square feet of granite. The design team selected Coldspring’s Carnelian granite with a Diamond^® 100 finish. Academy Black^® was used for the paving, while Mesabi Black^® granite was used for the building base and accent pieces such as bollards and benches. The design team visited Coldspring’s quarries and fabrication facilities to better understand the color characteristics and markings in the selected stone. The original design called for four-inch thick cladding, the detail was time and cost prohibitive. Still, the architect didn’t want to compromise on the essence and strength associated with granite. As such, Coldspring worked with the design team to capture the depth and beauty of the original design with a 2-inch solution that fit in the budget and schedule.

Sustainability was a key requirement as the project was designed to meet the silver level criteria of the ‘U.S. Army’s SPiRiT rating system.