Due to the large scale of the project, Arquitectonica wanted to underline the concept of transparency for the process of justice, literally and metaphorically, and they also wanted to use natural light inside, as well as offer extensive views of the nearby Biscayne Bay.
According to Steve Smith of American Slate Co., the slate was extracted from one quarry face to ensure color uniformity, while the raw slabs were split and cut to form four different tile sizes ranging from 1 x 4 feet to 4 x 4 feet. “These were then machined to 15-mm, even-thickness [dimensions] to allow installation using a thinset adhesive,” he said, adding that the whole project was delivered on time and within budget. “American Slate Co.’s in-house production and shipping departments coordinated the staging and delivery of 15 containers of slate to ensure a smooth flow of material to the site for installation.”