- Architect: HWKN Architecture
- General Contractor: Consigli Construction Co., Inc.
- Installer: Consigli / Riggs Contracting, Inc., Milford, MA
- Product: The Standard DURUS System
Award-winning HWKN Architecture designed the Keith Haring Wing at Bard College, completed in collaboration with C.T. Male Associates in late 2025. This 12,000-square-foot expansion of the Center for Curatorial Studies (CCS) honors Keith Haring, whose work is deeply tied to New York City’s cultural identity. The project doubles the size of the CCS facility, enhancing its library and archives while improving access for students, scholars, and researchers. The building features the DURUS Brick System, a high-performance masonry rainscreen solution that supports both design flexibility and building performance.
Choosing a High-Performance Brick Rainscreen System
The Keith Haring Wing was designed as a one-story masonry structure with minimalist, light-filled interiors. To achieve both the desired architectural expression and building performance, the project team selected the DURUS Brick System from Desana. This system uses thermally isolated aluminum sub framing to create an open cavity that supports insulation, ventilation, and drainage.
For this project, the cavity depth was expanded up to 12 inches to accommodate the design’s multidimensional brick façade. This allowed the creation of three-dimensional “box” elements within the field of the wall, delivering a distinctive visual effect while maintaining system integrity and performance.
Thin Brick Rainscreen Performance and System Benefits
The Keith Haring Wing leverages the DURUS Brick System to deliver both architectural flexibility and long-term building performance through a high-performance thin brick rainscreen assembly.
- Advanced moisture management: The open cavity design promotes continuous ventilation and drainage, helping to protect the building envelope from moisture intrusion
- Advanced moisture management: The open cavity design promotes continuous ventilation and drainage, helping to protect the building envelope from moisture intrusion
- Design flexibility: The system accommodates deep cavity configurations, enabling the creation of complex three-dimensional façade elements without compromising performance
- Lightweight construction: The thin brick rainscreen system reduces structural load compared to traditional masonry, allowing greater design freedom and installation efficiency
- Long-term durability: Engineered components and a drained and ventilated assembly contribute to extended system lifespan with reduced maintenance requirements
- Installation efficiency: Prefabricated system components support streamlined installation and consistent quality across large façade areas