The Colorado Buff sandstone, which was quarried near Masonville, CO, and supplied by Colorado Custom Rock of Boulder, CO, was preferred by the architects and owner for its permanence and low maintenance. “We wanted materials that would be thought of as timeless and with some gesture towards being a natural material,†said Project Architect Hugh Brown of Davis Partnership Architects in Denver, CO. “We recommended sandstone from the start. It was the appropriate texture, and it differed from the brick masonry [that was also used]. It also has a feeling of being local.â€
According to the architect, while the owner agreed that sandstone was the correct choice for the building material, it was decided to alter the color that was originally proposed. “Actually, they changed the color from rose to buff,†said Brown. “They liked the stone for the same reasons though -- permanence and naturalness. [The decision also] had to do with availability.†In addition to the exterior cladding, the sandstone was also used for a portion of the interior walls at the entrance.