When the Haslam and Edwards families purchased Major League Soccer's Columbus (Ohio) Crew franchise in late 2018, it was a win for the city and all those who wanted to see the team remain in Columbus, and a win for the organization itself. It would be
getting a brand new stadium, located in the city's Arena District, and a new training facility, built in the shadow of the grandstands at Historic Crew Stadium, the team's former home game venue. The new stadium is now complete and so is the training
facility. Dubbed the OhioHealth Performance Center, the training complex was completed in mid-2021 and features aluminum composite metal wall panels from Laminators Inc. of Hatfield, PA, on its exterior.
The OhioHealth Performance Center houses the Crew's complete soccer operations. The 42,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility features a full-service kitchen and dining area; high-performance weight room, training room, recovery room and hydrotherapy area;
a 40-person theater; multiple locker rooms; a sleep room; staff/operations/coaching offices; and a designated space for scouting. It is also the home to the Columbus Crew Academy, which is the Crew's player development program for athletes 13 and
up.
The exterior of the training facility features 14,600 sq. ft. of Laminators Incorporated's Omega-Lite® ACM panels in a custom Black Magic color. Ohio Glass, operating out of Columbus, fabricated and installed the panels using Laminators' Dry Seal
installation system. Ohio Glass and Columbus Architectural Studio, the Columbus-based design firm responsible for the project, chose Omega-Lite panels because they offer a highly decorative, strong and durable surface finish for exterior wall surfaces.
Composed of a polypropylene, corrugated core between two finished aluminum sheets, these panels are non-absorbent, water-resistant and easy to maintain. Overseeing the construction was general contractor Kokosing Construction of Howard, OH.
Featuring a "deep reveal" look without caulk at the joints, Laminators' dry seal installation is ideal for installing the Omega-Lite panels and creating a high-performance, pressure-equalized wall system that compartmentalizes the air cavity and allows
for drainage and ventilation. This system reduces moisture-related issues within the wall cavity. On- or off-site fabrication provides flexibility during the installation process. Dry Seal has passed AAMA 508 testing standards and is NFPA 285 compliant
for multi-story buildings.
By installing the Omega-Lite panels with the Dry Seal system, OhioHealth Performance Center received a class A fire rating and met NFPA 285 requirements. And though not applicable on this particular project, the system also meets Miami-Dade County Product Control and Florida Product Approval requirements.