Having the Cleveland Browns Training Facility and Administrative Complex located within its boundaries is a source of pride for the City of in Berea, Ohio and officials there are committed to keeping the team in it. To ensure the facility remains state-of-the-art, the city appropriated funds for renovations both inside and out. Panels from Laminators Inc. are among the products featured on a newly revamped exterior façade.
The city built the complex in 1991 and still owns it. In 2013 the city allocated $3 million to make both interior and exterior improvements. A major emphasis was on completely overhauling the 37,000 sq. ft. second level. Planning and design for the interior was handled by Westlake Reed Leskosky of Cleveland. Modern and unique work stations were constructed for over 160 staff members, including executives, financial and legal coaches, player personnel staff and scouts, corporate and ticket sales, marketing and creative services, community outreach and information technology. The new space contains approximately 60 hard-wall offices and 90 workstations, including a new draft room, call center and radio/video studio for team production.
In 2015 the Berea City Council approved a new agreement in which the city will contribute an additional $4.6 million through year 2028 for upgrades to the football operations spaces, which contains the fieldhouse, training room, medical facilities and locker rooms.
The exterior improvements were made under the direction of local architect Vocon, and general contractor, The Albert M. Highly Co. Both companies are based in Cleveland. To clad the exterior of the building, the project team utilized Laminators Incorporated Omega-Lite ACM panels. Over 10,000 square feet of aluminum composite panels were installed in an assortment of colors that included Classic Bright Silver Metallic, Slate Grey and Clear Matte Brushed. Omega-Lite ACM panels offer a highly decorative, strong and durable surface finish for exterior wall surfaces. Composed of a polypropylene, light-weight corrugated core between two finished aluminum sheets, these panels are non-absorbent, water-resistant and easy to maintain.
The ACM panels were installed using Laminators’ proprietary 1-Piece, Tight-Fit Molding installation system. This specific installation system made panel installation easy using Laminators durable 1-piece moldings — both "H" and "Reveal H" moldings are available providing two different design options for the panel joints. The resulting appearance is traditional and high-tech.
Omega-Lite installed with the 1-Piece, Tight-Fit system guaranteed the facility a class A fire rating and met NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 285, Miami-Dade County Product Control and Florida Product Approval requirements.