The addition of a modern indoor water park at Hope Lake Lodge at the Greek Peak Ski Center in central New York has transformed a once-seasonal ski resort into a new, year-round destination.
The indoor water park was created within the confines of a newly erected Varco Pruden metal building. To maintain an interior temperature range of 80 to 84 degrees, even in the most frigid winter months, the building’s designer skinned the building with 60,000 sq. ft. of Metl-Span® insulated wall and roof panels. The 4” thick CFR-42 roof panels were finished in Cool Forest Green on the exterior and Polar White on the interior. The 3” thick CF-42 wall panels were finished in Terra Cotta on the exterior and Desert Beige on the interior.
The design of the LEED Silver project was developed by the RBA Group of Charlotte, NC. The use of a steel super structure with insulated metal wall and roof panels allowed the design team to create the large clear spans necessary for housing the water park features while achieving a high degree of thermal efficiency.
Steven Finch, RBA’s director of hospitality, was the project architect. “The steel super structure was the most affordable system and the insulated metal panels were an obvious choice because of their efficiency. But they also allowed us to do a lot of punched openings where water slide tubes exit and re-enter the building,” Finch said. “Plus, we have a series of 12’ x 12’ roll-up operable doors and windows that allow guests to sit inside the water park and look at the mountains during the summer months.”
Dealing with the inherent high humidity and chlorine-laden atmosphere was an issue, according to Finch. The steel members were galvanized and then powder coated to resist corrosion. The Metl-Span panels utilize a Kynar finish.
VIP Structures Inc. of Syracuse, NY, erected the metal building and handled the installation of the insulated panels. The design of the building with its steep slope roof and 100’-long skylight at the ridgeline was a challenge according to VIP’s Leonard Pogroski. “But our crew did a great job dealing with the hips and valleys and trim. It’s a great looking job,” Pogroski said.
The Metl-Span panels were also used to clad an adjoining 7,000 sq. ft. arcade that links the water park to the Hope Lake Lodge and Conference Center.
Photos by Kristian S. Reynolds