Architect Randy Brown was approached to design and build a research station on the Elkhorn River in Sarpy County, Nebraska, about 30 miles west of Omaha. The station was created in order to study “emerging contaminants” in the river, and will house specimen tanks, water-testing equipment and a few researchers. Brown drew from the regions past to create an authentic aesthetic for the structure. He covered the building in overlapping panels of Cor-Ten steel, which give the station a beautiful and fitting warm rust color, reminiscent of the industrial era, or the aging hull of a ship. The station might be small (63 sq-ft) but Brown’s respect and understanding of the surrounding culture and environment make this project speak volumes. [ArchitecturalRecord]
