Perforated Metal Guardrail - Carleton College
Architect: Page
Project: Evelyn M. Anderson Hall
Location: Carleton College
Product: Apollo Steel Guardrail
Challenge: Maximizing Daylight Without Compromising Safety
Carleton College recently completed a major campus transformation with the addition of Evelyn M. Anderson Hall. Located in Minnesota, lighting played a crucial role in this project, particularly given the limited daylight hours during winter. To enhance the building’s central gathering space, architects designed a three-story glass foyer that brings in natural light and functions as the building’s “living room.” This building bridges the gap between the STEM and Liberal Arts disciplines and fosters a space for openness, interaction, and collaboration among students.
Solution: StellarCraft Apollo Steel Guardrail
The StellarCraft Apollo Steel Guardrail was chosen to elegantly span the glass foyer’s three-story staircase while providing safety along the perimeter of the balcony walkway. The perforated metal guardrail design allows unobstructed sightlines into the communal space below, reinforcing the building’s sense of openness and connectivity. The guardrail’s integrated lighting capabilities were fully utilized, with soft, commercial-grade LED lights installed beneath the top rail. This subtle illumination highlights the staircase and creates a modern, versatile, and inviting walkway throughout the building.
Let’s Get Technical
Stellarcraft engineered the Apollo Perforated Steel Guardrail system with precision connection points and attachment details to ensure a seamless and efficient installation process.
A critical design consideration was the integration of the guardrail into the three-story staircase. The Apollo Guardrail system allows stair stringers to be incorporated directly into the base structure. For this project, StellarCraft designed and fabricated a continuous 2” × 12” × 1/4″ steel tube stringer with closure plates running the full height of the foyer staircase.
Another distinctive feature of the Apollo Guardrail is the integrated steel bar frame at the top of the system. StellarCraft designed a 4” × 1/2″ steel bar frame to support the installation of LED light strips beneath the top rail, providing both structural support and integrated illumination.
The guardrail was also engineered to accommodate a wood handrail along the top of the system. Reinforcement brackets were designed and welded to the interior of the guardrail to ensure a secure and durable handrail attachment.
The infill panels feature StellarCraft’s signature circle perforation pattern with approximately 1-inch diameter openings. In total, the project included 337 mild steel panels across 72 unique panel size variations. The architect selected a white finish to complement the surrounding architectural elements and enhance the brightness of the space.
Result: Illuminated by Design — The Apollo Perforated Metal Guardrail in Action
The central feature of the project, the Apollo Guardrail, not only provides safety along the three-story staircase but also enhances the building’s transparency and connectivity. Positioned alongside large glass windows, the perforated metal guardrail allows students to move through the space while observing the inner workings of classrooms, labs, offices, and gathering areas. This design encourages interaction, inspires collaboration, and reinforces the project’s goal of “putting science on display.”
