Scott System
Case Study
Custom Formliners Bring Architectural Vision to Life at The Dupont
Project
Overview
Modern architecture increasingly celebrates raw materials and structural honesty, with exposed concrete serving as both functional element and artistic statement. When GKV Architects, DPC designed The Dupont in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood, they envisioned a building that would showcase the beauty of béton brut, the French term for exposed architectural concrete.
Scott System was selected to provide the custom urethane formliners that would bring this architectural vision to reality.
The Challenges
The Dupont required formliners to produce architectural-grade exposed concrete, known as béton brut, for the building’s exterior. This demanded flawless surface quality and consistent texture, as imperfections could not be concealed by cladding. The concrete surfaces had to be worthy of a luxury residential building with a prominent view of the Manhattan skyline, meaning every detail needed precision manufacturing to translate GKV Architects’ design into a tangible form.
The project necessitated a manufacturing partner who recognized that the concrete structure itself was the core architectural statement, not just a framework hidden behind other materials. This elevated the importance of the formliners, which were essential for achieving the high standard of display-worthy concrete demanded by the architect’s vision.
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The Vision
“ The structure is present on the exterior of the building. It’s not hidden by glass or brick or stone. We are celebrating the structure of the building itself. “
says Randolph Gerner, Principal of GKV Architects, DPC, of the béton brut technique used to build The Dupont.
This architectural philosophy positions The Dupont as a contemporary expression of material authenticity. The building’s exposed concrete exterior creates a bold presence in Greenpoint, offering residents in studio, one, two, and three-bedroom residences a connection to modernist design principles while enjoying views of the Manhattan skyline and East River.
Proposed Solution
Scott System developed custom urethane formliners specifically engineered to achieve the architectural quality required for The Dupont’s béton brut exterior. These formliners would need to produce concrete surfaces with the texture, consistency, and finish necessary for permanent exterior exposure on a luxury residential building.
The solution required careful attention to detail throughout the manufacturing process, ensuring that every formliner would contribute to the cohesive aesthetic vision GKV Architects established for the project.
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Components for Success
The manufacturing process translated GKV Architects’ design specifications into formliners that could produce consistent, high-quality concrete surfaces across the building’s exterior. This consistency proved essential for a project where the structure itself serves as the primary architectural expression.
Scott System’s expertise in architectural formliners enabled the team to understand the unique requirements of béton brut construction, where concrete surfaces must meet aesthetic standards typically reserved for finished facade materials.
Products Used
Custom Urethane Formliners: Precision-engineered forms for architectural concrete applications
Béton Brut Specifications: Formliners designed for exposed concrete exterior applications
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The Outcome
Scott System successfully delivered custom urethane formliners that enabled the creation of The Dupont’s striking béton brut exterior, demonstrating the aesthetic potential of architectural concrete. The new custom formliners helped meet luxury residential standards and fulfilled GKV Architects’ vision of celebrating the structure.
The project demonstrates Scott System’s capability to support ambitious architectural projects where concrete moves beyond utilitarian function to become a primary design element. By providing formliners that enable architectural-grade exposed concrete, Scott System helped bring a distinctive modernist vision to Brooklyn’s evolving skyline.