With its pleasing appearance and superb durability, Contrarian Metal Resources’ InvariMatte-finish stainless steel was deemed the ideal product for the exterior of the new student union at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. As designed by Goody Clancy and Associates of Boston, MA, the 45,000 sq. ft. dining and meeting hall—dubbed The Commons—features both roofing and flat lock wall panels formed from the architectural-grade metal.

InvariMatte is a non-directional, low-gloss, uniformly textured stainless steel designed specifically for applications like The Commons. The consistency of the finish results in excellent panel-to-panel matching, very similar to that of paint, while the stainless steel has the ability to withstand even the harshest of environments, including marine. Roger Williams University is located on land bounded to the east by Mt. Hope Bay, with the new building being among the closest structures to the water’s edge.

A&M Roofing and Sheet Metal of Andover, MA, fabricated and installed the 21,000 sq. ft. of metal roof and wall panels for the project. And though the cladding and design makes this new building decidedly more modern than surrounding structures, the InvariMatte finish enables a connection. “The red cladding on the School of Architecture reflects softly off the metal on The Commons,” said Dr. Ulker Coper, one of the professors at the School of Architecture. “On the opposite side stands the library, which features red brick. The reds in these buildings talk to each other in this way.” Dr. Coper has used the project as a learning tool, presenting drawings of the building to her architecture classes.

InvariMatte is one of a number of architectural metals available through Contrarian Metal Resources. The company, headquartered in Cranberry Township, PA, offers other stainless steel finishes as well as products based on titanium and zinc. These products can be used for a variety of architectural applications, including roofing and wall panel systems, composite panels, elevators, coping, trim, doors and countertops.