The office building at 2165 Spring St. in Long Beach, CA is ready for occupants with updated interior spaces and an attention-grabbing exterior. Dri-Design Tapered Series Panels were integral to creating a new image for the building and adding dimension to the exterior.

“The Dri-Design panels were specifically selected for their beautiful aesthetic and are what drove the design of the building exterior," says Julia Carroll, project manager with Irvine, CA-based Ware Malcomb, the project architect. "The ability to tilt the panels in different directions inspired the visual effect of the fluttering wall, mimicking the panels moving in the wind."

Emerald Metal Products, Signal Hill, CA, installed 7,651 square feet of Tapered Series Panels and standard Dri-Design Panels in Bone White and Medium Gray colors. The panels were distributed by 2H Construction, Signal Hill. Tapered Series Panels create a truly one-of-a-kind facade because they can be angled in any direction to varying degrees and depths. This design freedom happens without the need to modify the substrate or weather barrier.

Retrofit projects often have obstacles because of existing conditions, and this building had uneven exterior walls. The Dri-Design panels’ lightweight aluminum construction allowed for the needed flexibility of substrate to correct the issue. Dale Gronewold, president of Emerald Metal Products, says, “The existing building leaned over 2 inches, so we had to add tapered hat channel furring to make everything straight."

The four-story structure, constructed in 1985, has covered parking on the first floor. The improvements now make the building a sought-after rental space.

"A retrofit application gives building owners the opportunity to add fresh and modern details to an old building,” says Brad Zeeff, president of Dri-Design. “The return on investment can be seen in the curb appeal that brings renewed rental interest and new tenants.”