When officials in Windsor, Ontario, Canada decided to create a distinctive all-season public area within the Civic Esplanade that links Windsor City Hall to the Detroit River, they challenged a local architectural firm, Randi Glos Architects, to develop a space that blended into the existing environment and would continue to provide clear access to the waterfront. Glos responded with a unique open-air structure centered by a concrete structure that serves as an ice skating rink in the winter and a performance stage in the summer for the newly designated Charles J. Clarke Square.

The central area, surrounded by terrace seating and lighting columns, is framed by a unique series of covered arches that were fabricated by The Riverside Group of Windsor from 12,000 sq. ft. of Alcoa Architectural Products' 4mm Reynobond® Aluminum Composite Material (ACM). The Pure White and Bright Silver Metallic-colored panels were installed using Riverside’s exclusive R4-300 Dry-Joint Pressure Equalized Rainscreen attachment system. “Reynobond® was the material of choice due to the complex shapes and the architect’s interest in the performance and appearance possible with Dry Joint Rainscreen technology,” said John McArthur of The Riverside Group.

Charles J. Clarke Square was completed in just 7 months. The general contractor on the project was Front Construction and the engineer was Dillon Consulting Ltd. Both firms are located in Windsor.