In today’s hyper-competitive commercial real estate market, there's no shortage of properties for prospective tenants to choose from. The owners of Airport Square 13 in Linthicum Heights, MD, were well aware of this when they decided to move forward with the renovation of their 30-year-old building. To help transform the four-story structure into a viable lease option with strong curb appeal, the architect they hired covered the exterior with Dri-Design rainscreen metal wall panels.

“Retrofit jobs have increased in popularity as people understand the versatility of metal wall panels,” says Brad Zeeff, president of Dri-Design. “But not all metal panels are the same. Dri-Design wall panels easily attach to existing structures’ walls, and our team works with installing contractors to address existing structural conditions to ensure the integrity and quality of our wall panels.”

HITT Contracting Inc., Falls Church, VA, in collaboration with Chesapeake Glazing of Reistertown, MD, installed 20,621 square feet of 0.080-inch aluminum Dri-Design wall panels in both clear anodized and Charcoal painted finishes.

Dri-Design wall panels have true dry joints. There are no sealants, gaskets or butyl tape, so there will be no streaking on the building or maintenance for building owners. The panels are fully tested to exceed ASTM standards and the latest AAMA 508-07. Dri-Design panels are available in a variety of materials, colors, finishes, textures and sizes.

“As in new construction, retrofit buildings have unlimited design possibilities when using Dri-Design Panels that are also economical and energy efficient,” Zeeff adds.

The architect, Gensler, Baltimore, MD, worked with the developer to make this building the signature spot of Airport Square, a 200-acre corporate campus. Surrounded by retail, restaurants and new office developments, Airport Square 13 can now compete because of its interior and exterior renovations, which have made the space more attractive.