Earth-toned GFRC panels and contrasting metal clad the exterior of climbing and caving equipment company Petzl’s new North American HQ.

The adventure hub includes a combination administrative, training, and distribution centre with mesa-like bottom stories and a protruding tower that houses a multi-storey climbing wall.

ajc architects developed a southwestern palette for the facility, inspired by Petzl founder Paul Petzl’s recent visits to Mesa Verde National Park and Machu Picchu. 

The architects worked with Tuscan Stoneworx to develop a hybrid of stone-backed GFRC panels as an alternative to costly natural stone.

The panels have been used as exterior cladding, adhering directly onto the building to avoid any breaks in the thermal barrier.

Following a number of colour tests, three red-orange tones were chosen and rendered onto the panels with a sandblaster to create a natural stone texture.

A contrasting dark grey metal clads the tower and area over the front door.

High-performance, glare reducing glass windows were installed on both sides of the office block to distribute daylight into the facility's interior.

Courtesy Architect’s Newspaper Blog