Rockford Cardiology Associates Ltd., Rockford, IL, was previously scattered throughout an aging, three-story building that offered no potential for the growing practice. P-G Architecture Design/Build, Rockford, was chosen to assist the 16-physician group with site selection as well as all aspects of internal and external design and construction of a completely new facility.

P-G's design solution was a 53,000 sq. ft. building clad with high performance glass and more than 19,000 sq. ft. of Dri-Design® wall panels finished in Silver Mica and Weathered Zinc Mica. The Dri-Design Wall Panel System is an dry joint, pressure-equalized rainscreen system characterized by its ease of installation and economical price.

The project was P-G Architecture’s first experience with Dri-Design according to principal-in-charge Rod Gustafson. “After the basic interior plan was resolved, we looked at various options for the exterior,” Gustafson said. “We did a cost analysis of materials including EIFS, precast, brick, glass and metal. The Dri-Design system was extremely cost effective plus it clearly delivered the high-tech look we were seeking to portray the high technology services being offered within.”

There was another important factor that the designers considered in selecting Dri-Design. “The fact that it’s a dry system was important to us,” notes Gusfafson. “We’ve had problems with wet systems where the caulking stained the building. We didn’t want that to happen here. The exterior skin says everything about a building. Dri-Design is a first class material and we were able to deliver a first class building for under $140 per square foot.”

Gustafson credits the cost efficiency of the project to the design-led, design-build process that P-G Architecture uses. The firm specializes in healthcare and financial projects.

Dri-Design panels can be made from a variety of materials including painted aluminum, zinc, copper and stainless steel. Panels are available in any Kynar color in both standard and custom sizes.