Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation, a premier nationwide provider of metal panels for the building and construction industry, provided a total of 47,500 square feet of bold, sleek metal paneling for both the interior and exterior of the new Grand Canyon University (GCU) Student Recreation Center in Phoenix, AZ.
The 55,000-square-foot Student Recreation Center houses a state-of-the-art fitness area, a dance studio, and three professional-quality practice courts. It is open to all GCU students, faculty, and staff, and serves as the primary facility for the school’s basketball and wrestling teams. Inside the facility, Metal Sales panels contrast traditional brick to offer a modern edge, while outside they act as a canvas for reflecting the radiant Arizona sun. The panels also offer durable protection for the building, making them as strong as they are beautiful.
The Center’s practice courts are surrounded by 6,500 square feet of Metal Sales’ 7/8” Corrugated panels, which offer clean lines for a finished look and strong material for a sturdy backdrop. Leading to the outside, the partially-covered exterior walkway/staircase is lined with 27,000 square feet of modern Performance 7/8” Corrugated panels. Finally, the project is made complete with 14,000 square feet of Metal Sales’ TLC-1 20 gauge roll-formed panels, which shield the structure’s exterior.
“Inside and out, this facility shows off the beauty and functionality of our products,” said Byron Smith, West Region Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Metal Sales. “Most importantly, though, this project emphasizes Metal Sales’ versatility. The panels are applied to various sections of the building, each for distinct purposes, and each offering its own look.”
Metal panels are an extremely popular choice for projects of this nature, owing to their environmental sustainability and long-lasting toughness. Metal Sales offers supreme panel products that hold up well in the extreme Arizona heat. And with a 45 year paint warranty, they are guaranteed to maintain their visual appeal even after decades of wear.
“For this project, a key consideration was durability,” said John Kane, Design Principle at Architekton (Tempe, AZ), architect of the project. “Recreation facilities take a lot of abuse, and we needed a product that could last a long period of time without repairing or repainting. Having specified Metal Sales products before, we knew they were up to the task. In addition, the panels offer a refined profile, resulting in the ideal blend of functionality and polished aesthetics.”
The architectural products utilized in the new Student Recreation Center were chosen not only for their durability, but also for their ability to convey a sense of athletic spirit. Metal Sales TLC-1 panels in Old Zinc Grey color are used to frame figures of the school mascot, which are proudly displayed in the form of aluminum antelope silhouettes on the east and west-facing sides of the facility. Small horizontal strips in GCU Purple accent the panels themselves to further exhibit team branding. Together, the panels and antelope silhouettes help to create a landmark building of school pride for the campus.
Distinguished buildings like the GCU Student Recreation Center often encounter unique construction demands because of their ambitious designs. To deal with unexpected measurement challenges, the project’s steel building contractor - Arizona Corporate Builders of Tempe, AZ - had to work closely with Metal Sales to acquire more custom-made panels after initial orders had already been placed.
“Metal Sales has a can-do attitude,” explained Dan Barnett, president of Arizona Corporate Builders. “They were able to provide a solution to almost every problem. They have a good quality product and their customer service is the best I’ve ever dealt with among component suppliers.”
The Grand Canyon University Student Recreation Center was completed in November 2010. Currently, over 30 fitness classes per week take place at the Center, and the university teams are proud to practice in beautiful, professional-grade facilities.