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When the Nordstrom Specialty Retail Company renovated their headquarters in downtown Seattle, Washington, they wanted to preserve the existing classic appearance of their building. The renovation included replacing the louvers which covered the air intake and exhaust openings. Because of the wide variety of opening conditions in the original building construction, this project included many unique design challenges.

To help them meet these challenges, Nordstrom worked with Callison Architecture of Seattle. Callison designed the air intake and exhaust openings to be protected with architecturally compatible louvers designed to blend in with blinds that may be added as window treatments in future improvements. In addition, Ruskin louvers enhanced the overall exterior aesthetics of Nordstrom’s Headquarters.

Ruskin's design team worked with Callison and Nordstrom to provide specific details for the numerous window openings and the stone facade. To create a consistent appearance for the blade spacings, Ruskin modified the louver head and sill construction. Ruskin also provided architectural trim to blend in with the window frames in the adjacent openings and modified the installation method to ensure proper performance.

Air Commodities, Ruskin's representative in the Seattle area, coordinated the selection and procurement of the louvers for this renovation. Their professional services and attention to details helped contribute to the seamless completion of this project.

"Ruskin’s ability to customize its complete product line to meet the specific requirements for an individual project like Nordstrom is a significant advantage. We were able to meet their design specifications by modifying the Ruskin ELF louver," says Bob Roy, the Air Commodities sales engineer responsible for the project.

To help guarantee a flawless installation, McKinstry/Roberge, the installing contractor, visited the Ruskin manufacturing facility while the louvers were in production. "We wanted to be familiar with the louver construction and review installation requirements with Ruskin’s design/manufacturing team," says Karl Seemann, McKinstry/Roberge's sales manager. "Ruskin’s facility is impressive. They use state-of-the-art production techniques, including an automated finishing system. When we returned to Seattle, we were confident we would receive a quality product."

For over 40 years, Ruskin has been selected to provide solutions to thousands of new and renovation projects just like Nordstrom’s. Our complete line of architectural louvers, sight screens and damper products provide the ideal answer to many renovation and new construction challenges.

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