The marrying of composite panel cores with exotic metal skins has opened up new possibilities for the use of copper as an exterior wall cladding. And firms like OPN Architects of Cedar Rapids, IA, are taking full advantage. For its design of the Moline Public Library in Moline, IL, it mixed 7,600 sq. ft. of traditional ALPOLIC® ACM (aluminum composite material) panels with almost 11,000 sq. ft. of copper-faced ALPOLIC® MCM composite panels to achieve aesthetic results that speak for themselves.

Mitsubishi Chemical FP America Inc. of Chesapeake, VA, manufactured the ALPOLIC® materials. The 4mm-thick aluminum composite material it supplied for the project was finished with a Mica Platinum paint finish, while the 2mm-thick copper-faced panels were provided in a mill finish that was later patinated using a chemical accelerant.

Metal Design Systems Inc. of Cedar Rapids, IA, fabricated the panels for installation using its Series 60 Flat Lock attachment method. Handling the actual installation was The Schebler Company of Bettendorf, IA.