July 21, 2025
By Kamila Weiss
INTRODUCTION
This week on Inside the Spec, we’re heading to Wisconsin—where seven elevator cores became one continuous carved map.
LMN Architects came to us with an idea for the University of Wisconsin’s new Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) Building):
“Can we carve the full Wisconsin River across 7 floors of elevator cores?”
They wanted:
A custom topographic pattern
A different design on each floor
The right balance of depth and material for visual impact
A story that would flow from the ground up
That meant over 5,000 sq ft of carved Corian®—a massive feature wall wrapping through the heart of a LEED Platinum campus.
The Solution: Design Assist
Here’s how we made it happen:
- Reviewed textures from our website with the team.
- Mapped the full river using our custom software.
- Used different CNC tools and carving depths for land and water.
- Inlaid floor numbers for wayfinding.
- Delivered a full-size mockup and samples to support approvals.
Why it landed:
Our Design Assist process gave the design team confidence early.
We helped them show their vision clearly, solve technical challenges, and make bold ideas feel practical.
Crews installed up to 1,000 sq ft in a day
Some in progress install images:
This is what happens when design meets tech—and when Corian® gets pushed beyond the usual.
It was a bold idea—but we made it simple to present and easy to install.
Next week on Inside the Spec: A facade that had to survive the elements - and the design review board.
