By the time Archon Architects of Windsor was commissioned to design an addition for the Tregaskiss manufacturing and office complex in nearby Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada, the building had already undergone a series of expansions, somewhat to the detriment of its overall appearance. One of the goals this time around, in addition to providing needed new space for the company’s research and development, customer service and engineering departments, was to create a bold, unified look, rendered in the company’s silver and black colors. And to do achieve that the architect relied on a palette of materials that included glass and smooth-faced wall panels fabricated from Reynobond® aluminum composite material.

The sleek new addition—providing 9,000 sq. ft. of new space at a cost of $1.6 million—fronts the manufacturing building, giving the complex a whole new look and feel. A two-story galleria joins the new front entrance to the main two-story office addition and removes the circulation from the existing office areas.

“The client was very much a part of the design process,” said Robert DiMaio of Archon Architects. “They manufacture and supply high-end, highly polished metal welding equipment, and wanted the building’s aesthetic to reflect the corporate philosophy. We chose Reynobond® ACM as the primary material for the facade because it has a sleek, bold look with just the right edge to it.

“The curve is an important design element both inside and out,” he continued. “There are no sharp corners in the building. Instead, curves were employed to create the illusion that the building has no beginning or end. Reynobond® is a powerful material. We have been impressed with its flatness, uniformity and ability to form shapes, transitions and detailing important to the building envelope. It’s lightweight, yet extremely durable with a proven longevity.

Petretta of Windsor, Ontario served as general contractor on the project while the fabrication and installation of the panels was handled by The Riverside Group, also of Windsor. The project’s completion required approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of the 4mm-thick, LDPE-cored Reynobond material. In the Bright Silver Metallic PVDF color, it was formed into flat cladding panels and into curved bullnose fascia panels and column covers. The panels were installed using Riverside Group’s R4-300 Dry Joint Pressure Equalized Rainscreen attachment system.