Clyfford Still Museum

Maintaining color consistency throughout the entire 4800 cu.yds. of highly architectural concrete, while achieving extreme aesthetic requirements was a major challenge on site. The structure utilizes an extensive number of surface types, finishes and textures in the walls, ceilings and floors. Various elements need to match in color and consistency from placement to placement, while remaining relatively defect free. 

The Clyfford Still Museum encompasses a two story 28,500 square foot structure made of highly textured and resurfaced concrete that modifies light on both the exterior and the interior. 

A cantilevered canopy of concrete leads patrons into the first floor lobby and a glass wall allows visitors to see into the conservation studio and collection storage. An open corridor is dedicated to educational materials, and its two story expanse provides views from below of the second floor galleries and views from above into the library and study areas on the first floor. 

The second floor consists of a series of eleven distinct galleries, with ceilings of varying heights and proportions designed for optimal viewing of the elements in the Still collection. The galleries, totaling approximately 10,000 square feet, feature exhibits from throughout Clyfford Still’s career and will enable visitors to progress chronologically through his works. 

A daylight system equipped with diffused skylights and motorized shades is situated above a custom formed, surprisingly delicate, concrete tracery ceiling that virtually disappears in the scattered light. 

Concrete preconstruction, planning, trial mixtures and mock up placement tests for the Clyfford Still Museum started in January of 2009. Numerous trial mixtures were created by Martin Marietta utilizing various cement and fly ash types, coarse and fine aggregate sources, admixtures and physical properties of concrete. The trial mixtures and samples evolved into larger mock up samples that were evaluated by the entire construction team for consistency and reproducibility over time on the project. To ensure that the desired consistency and surface finish  could be produced repeatedly, several full scale 30’ tall mock up placements were constructed in the Martin Marietta Ready Mix yard duplicating the entire placement sequence from loading the trucks, to pumping the concrete, sequencing the trucks, and stripping and cleaning the placements as they would occur on site. In conjunction with the batch plant testing an onsite mock up structure was constructed from floor to ceiling to demonstrate the architect’s vision, giving the owner and potential donors a more realistic view of the Clyfford Still Museum experience. 

Each mock up was reviewed and discussed with the architect and construction team prior to placement and post placement to ensure that the aesthetic requirements had been met. 

The final mix design constituents were chosen based on the performance in the mock up placements and the availability of each constituent for the duration of the project. The concrete contains a blend of cement from Wyoming and Texas. The aggregate source is a river deposit that contains “no pink” aggregate. 

combination of highly performing water reducing admixture, Sika Viscocrete 2100, with hydration stabilizer, SikaTard 440, ensured prolonged workability during the hot summer months. Fast setting polycarboxylate based high range water reducer, Sikament 686, in combination with a non chloride accelerating admixture, Sika Set NC, provided the required set whenever ambient temperatures were low. Martin Marietta Ready Mix paid extreme attention to consistency and quality assurance with focus on constant water cement ratios and fluidity of the concrete. Plant and jobsite monitoring during production and construction assured the color, texture, stability, and consistency required. All on site adjustments with regard to slump and flow were accomplished through the use of VisoCrete 2100.