University of Minnesota Pillsbury Hall

Three subtle shades of terrazzo distinguish functional zones in this renovation of an 1889 building. Light-reflecting classic white was specified in the central corridor and the poured-in-place open elliptical staircase, with mirror and glass aggregate for dimension. Much of the terrazzo in the main halls was installed over the original heavy timber-framed floors, so the undulating substrate was reinforced. Care was taken to factor in deflection limits and floor leveling. With its arches and patterns, the hall has been called “the best remaining example of 19th-century architecture on the campus.”