Because of its proximity to a residential area, the architectural design of the new Maple Grove (MN) Public Works Facility includes a façade that complements the surrounding neighborhood. Key to the building's pleasing exterior are 12,000 sq. ft. of DRI-DESIGN rainscreen metal wall panels. They were formed from .080"-thick aluminum with a black anodized finish.
The new facility is situated on a 40-acre lot that allows for consolidation of a wide range of public works functions. With longevity and minimal environmental impact in mind, the facility was designed to be durable while incorporating operational efficiencies. The DRI-DESIGN Wall Panel System met those durability needs, and is an affordable dry joint, pressure-equalized rainscreen system.
Design for the project was provided by Oertel Architects, St. Paul. MN. “We chose the DRI-DESIGN system right away because of our success with it on several other projects,” said Andrew Cooper, project and design architect. “And we really liked the way the Black Anodized creates a marbling effect. Every panel has a different tone of black that offers nice character and complexity to the finish.”
In addition to the DRI-DESIGN panels, the material palette includes an interesting mix of masonry, glass and limestone rocks contained in black, vinyl-coated Gabion baskets. “We like the contrast of the rough texture of the Gabion with the smooth texture of the metal panels,” Cooper said. “The neighbors didn’t want to look at a typical precast box.”
Installation of the DRI-DESIGN panels was done by Minnkota Architectural Products Co., Osseo, MN. “The DRI-DESIGN team was involved in the preparation of the shop drawings and played a key role in determining panel sizes to achieve maximum efficiency while presenting the desired appearance,” according to Joel Meyer. Meyer was responsible for estimating and bidding the job.
DRI-DESIGN panels are 100% recyclable and can be made from a variety of materials including zinc, copper, stainless steel and painted and anodized aluminum. Panels are available in any Kynar color and are sized and detailed to meet the specific requirements of each project. This cost effective system is Dade County and AAMA 508-07 approved.