Located in Vero Beach, Florida, the Indian River County Intergenerational Recreation Center opened its doors for the first time in August 2016. The new facility, branded by the County as the iG (Intergenerational Center), is commonly referred to as ‘Big Red’ – an apt name given its Bright Red IMETCO Series 300® metal roof.
Originally conceived of in 2002, the building was delayed repeatedly over the years by multiple hurricanes and the economic downturn. Today, the $10.4 million complex serves as an activity hub and community venue for recreational, competitive, educational, social and philanthropic functions.
Big Red consists of two main buildings: the gymnasium, equipped to welcome nearly 800 people; and a second structure, featuring activity rooms, a concession area, a game room, catering kitchen and multi-purpose rooms.
The decision to top the new facility with metal roofing was based on experience…and a bad one at that. A roofing failureon the County Administration Building resulted in protracted litigation. This prompted a special focus on roofing design and panel system selection when the time came to build Big Red.
With this in mind, Orlando, FL-based Borrelli + Partners went above and beyond with a plan that included an increased wind exposure rating and 100-year storm design. The building, designed as a threshold facility, features no roof penetrations on the entire 37,000 sf roof surface allowing for added thermal movement.
The quality of the exterior space was critical to the project’s success, so the design team wanted to bring the panel system from the skyline to the plaza. The adaptability of the Series 300 metal roofing system played a key role in bringing the quality of the system to within human scale - visitors can touch and sense the durability of the metal panel system up-close. The panels were folded down, using a custom knee-plate detail, serving as wall panels on the North and South elevations of Big Red. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, this unique design provided additional protection from moisture intrusion compared to common detailing.
The project’s general contractor was KAST Construction of West Palm Beach, FL. IMETCO is headquarterd in Norcross, GA.