Owego Elementary School is a part of the Owego Apalachin Central School District, which serves 2,125 students in Owego, New York. In 2011, the school was irreversibly damaged by a flood, calling for reconstruction that began in 2014. The new, larger facility - featuring a range of products from CENTRIA - sports more durability and sustainability features than its predecessor.
Resting on an 8-foot foundation, the new $70 million school called for a design that protected it from New York’s unpredictable weather. Pennsylvania-based architect Highland Associates needed to specify thermal and moisture efficient metal to combat harsh winters and water damage, while providing a refreshed and contemporary aesthetic.
Highland Associates specified 80,000 feet of CENTRIA MetalWrap sheathing to insulate the building. Resting behind both brick and single-skin metal panels, the sheathing provides the best option for thermal efficiency in the face of intense cold and flood-prone environments, according to Highland Associates Project Manager Jim McDonald.
“We were initially going to use standard rigid insulation,” he said. “We held a seminar to compare materials and found that MetalWrap gives us a better R-value compared to rigid insulation. That was the deciding factor.”
The MetalWrap envelope integrates with CENTRIA Concept Series and IW Series rainscreen panels to protect against moisture infiltration. Air and vapor barriers and a metal drain plane ensure moisture control without sacrificing crucial thermal efficiency. In addition, the single-component envelope reduces material usage and allows for easy installation. Single-source responsibility simplifies integration with CENTRIA Concept Series and IW Series panels, providing a seamless and durable design.
Formawall Dimension Series panels deliver thermal efficiency and moisture control in a single panelized component with a factory foamed-in-place core, minimizing insulation gaps, along with a thermal break between the face and the liner. By utilizing pressure equalization along the length of the horizontal joinery, the panels offer superior weather resistance.
In addition to improving performance, metal panels provide an aesthetically pleasing façade. CENTRIA’s Formawall IMPs, Concept Series and IW Series panels accentuate the brick façade of the building with a smooth, modern aesthetic that coincides with the rebirth of the school. The smooth panels interlock to demonstrate a precise, symmetrical design and allow for thermal movement and energy conservation. Colors such as Lava Gray and Granite give the panels a sophisticated, contemporary air and are complete with CENTRIA’s Duragard metal coating to further amplify the panels’ longevity by resisting color fade.
The architect was Highland Associates, Clark Summit, PA. The CENTRIA products dealer/installer was CFE Inc., Elmira, NY. The contractor was Daniel J. Lynch Inc., Endwell, NY.
CENTRIA products used on this project included:
• MetalWrap™ 3” - Square Feet: 80,000.
• Formawall® Dimension Series® 2” Horizontal - Square Feet: 6,700; Color: Lava Gray; Coating: Duragard Plus; Finish: Smooth; Gauge: 22.
• Formawall Dimension Series 2” Horizontal - Square Feet: 22,840; Color: Cinnagold Dust; Coating: Duragard Plus; Finish: Smooth; Gauge: 22.
• Formawall Dimension Series 2” Horizontal - Square Feet: 2,020; Color: Bronze; Coating: Duragard Plus; Finish: Smooth; Gauge: 22.
• Formawall Dimension Series 2” Horizontal - Square Feet: 2,186; Color: Silversmith; Coating: Duragard Plus; Finish: Smooth; Gauge: 22.
• Concept Series® Concealed Fastener Panels CS-620 - Square Feet: 587; Color: Granite; Coating: Duragard; Finish: Smooth; Gauge: 22.
• Concept Series Concealed Fastener Panels CS-620 with MicroSeam® corners - Square Feet: 21,395; Color: Dark Bronze; Coating: Duragard; Finish: Smooth; Gauge: 22.
• IW Series IW-13 Horizontal Concealed Fastener Panels - Square Feet: 4,387; Color: Granite; Coating: Duragard; Finish: Smooth; Gauge: 18.
• IW Series IW-10 Horizontal Concealed Fastener Panels - Square Feet: 10,791; Color: Granite; Coating: Duragard; Finish: Smooth; Gauge: 18.
• IW Series IW-10 Horizontal Concealed Fastener Panels - Square Feet: 4,903; Color: Crushed Ice; Coating: Duragard; Finish: Smooth; Gauge: 18.