Featured Projects

The Residence In the Woods is a uniquely-formed structure that responds literally to significant site challenges. Designed by its architect owner and wedged between zoning setbacks, a stream buffer and a steep slope, the residence was squeezed vertically into a three-story massing. Each floor is clad in a different material, with the lower level featuring 1/2" sinusoidal panels fabricated from 0.8mm RHEINZINK material in a Preweathered Graphite Gray finish. The panels were applied as a ventilated rainscreen.

Elipse BLC is a developer of distribution and logistic centers for large companies setting up operation in the Baltic countries. When Elipse BLC set out to construct a new distribution center in Riga, Latvia, they looked to North American expertise in the design and optimization of the heating and ventilation system. The SolarWall® technology was chosen not only because it uses renewable energy, but also because of its costcompetitiveness and ability to satisfy the ventilation requirements for the new facility.

Pre-engineered metal building systems from Butler Manufacturing, featuring KoreTeck™ panelized wall systems, were utilized by Alan Anderson Architect, AIA, of Sarasota, FL, for the pair of buildings that make up the newly completed Cobia Bay Retail Center in Sarasota. The project’s general contractor was Formella Construction LLC, a Sarasota-based authorized Butler builder. The Cobia Bay development was completed in February 2009 and consists of two buildings. The larger is 28,314 sq. ft. while the smaller is approximately 4,000 sq. ft.

When ASI Limited President Ken Smith learned about Kalzip’s perforated aluminium facade, he realized it was something that would work well on the new headquarters building his company was planning. ASI Limited, located near Indianapolis, IN, is a building enclosure specialist and the new structure was envisioned as a showpiece of the company's capabilities. It was also meant to reflect the company's forward-thinking philosophy. Kalzip became instrumental in fulfilling both goals.

Now House is a Near-Zero-Energy concept home located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. What makes the project rather unique is that its designer, David Fujiwara, was able to successfully apply the concepts of near-zero-energy-use construction to an existing home—one more than 50 years old—rather than new construction. It speaks volumes that alongside technologies like solar photovoltaics, solar thermal heating, low-flow water fixtures, low-e windows and high-efficiency insulation, the project includes VicElite from VICWEST.

Ocean Gateway is a 15,000 square-foot marine passenger terminal located in Portland, ME that accommodates the international ferry traffic between Portland and Nova Scotia. One of the goals of the Ocean Gateway project was to incorporate innovative materials and products on the terminal while continuing to embrace the historical heritage of the city's waterfront setting. Within the scheme of its design, the new building features Omega-Lite® ACM panels from Laminators Inc.

Though more commonly featured in roofing applications, stamped metal shingles by Paradigm Shingles of Milton, VT, are also perfectly appropriate for use as a wall cladding. Evidence of that can be seen in Portland, ME, where they were recently specified by Richard Renner Architects for the exterior of a newly constructed 1,300 sq. ft. home. Christopher Gormely Inc. of North Yarmouth, ME, was the general contractor for the project, which was built with environmental responsibility and energy efficiency in mind.

Founded in 1983, Musician’s Friend has grown rapidly to become the world’s largest direct marketer of music gear. Their vision is to give musicians the best prices and selection available, along with superior service to help musicians achieve their goals in music. A new 64,800 sq. ft. Wildeck® mezzanine now stands in the middle of their 700,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Kansas City, MO to help utilize the vertical space and manage the 36,000 products Musician’s Friend carries.

The new St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center in Boardman, OH utilizes more than 25,000 sq. ft. of Citadel Envelope 2000® Rain Screen panels as a key design element. The Citadel metal composite material (MCM) panels were finished in Clear Anodized and interface with brick masonry. The $77 million, 7-story acute care facility was designed as a major addition to an existing low-rise diagnostic center. The new health center becomes the cornerstone for future campus expansion. Critical to the design was the continuation of the existing structure’s array of exterior forms and materials.

The new Monroe Pointe condominiums in Denver’s upscale Cherry Creek area utilize 14,000 sq. ft. of .050"-thick aluminum Dri-Design panels finished in Silver Metallic. Dri-Design is an affordable dry joint, pressure-equalized rainscreen system. The six-story, 69-unit luxury development offers great views of the mountains as well as the downtown Denver skyline. Condo units range in size from 895 sq. ft. to 5,380 sq. ft. for a penthouse. The designer of the $64 million project was Davis Partnership Architects, Denver.

A new facility at the Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, Iowa, provides overnight service for routine maintenance, allowing planes to arrive in the evening and receive aircraft service overnight. The $11.8 million hangar was built by the City of Des Moines and is being leased to Mesaba Airlines, a Northwest Airlines subsidiary. It serves as a regional maintenance facility. Steel framing, along with metal wall and roof panels, from Ceco Building Systems played a key role in the facility's construction.

PressLock Grille from Ohio Gratings Inc., (OGI) of Canton, OH, is featured on the recently completed Blackhawk/Halsted Parking Deck in Chicago, IL. According to the manufacturer, its product was specified for its ability to meet the architect’s demands for a lightweight, open product. Structural steel supports were added around the parking structure to allow for continuous panel alignment as the ramps of the parking deck changed levels. Smaller panels were used as part of a segmented arc at their north elevation to create a canopy that extends over the top of the parking deck.

When the doors swung open recently to the Mid-South's first residential "green house", visitors inside the remarkable home were sheltered by an energy-efficient roof provided by Memphis, TN-based Varco Pruden Buildings, a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. The TERRA house, which had its grand opening February 27, 2009, is applying for platinum level LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. If the certification is granted, it would be the first such residence in the state of Tennessee.

Overlooking Escambia Bay on Florida’s Gulf Coast, this waterfront home provides a dramatic example of the innovative use of metal in residential construction. Highlighting the palette of materials are Petersen corrugated aluminum panels. Approximately 3,500 sq. ft. of .032” aluminum 2.67” x 7/8” corrugated panels clad the residence along with 2,800 sq. ft. of .032” aluminum flush panels. The panels were finished with PAC-CLAD® KYNAR 500® coating in Champagne Metallic and Copper Penny Metallic. In addition, 1,000 sq. ft. of .032” aluminum flashing was utilized.

Nestled among the lush orchards of central Florida stands the pride of Jim Gearhart, owner of AAA American Storage in Groveland. His 87,000 sq. ft. multi-level self-storage operation boasts some of the latest innovations and equipment available today for safe, secure, and efficient material handling and storage. The facility includes a VRC material lift purchased from AME Vertical in Troy, MI, a long-time representative of Wildeck® products manufactured in Waukesha, WI.

Impartiality, fairness and equality are all part of the vocabulary used to describe the American justice system. Historically, most courthouses have been imposing structures designed to convey that message with enduring strength and dignity. The architecture of the new Bill Santucci Justice Center in Placer County, CA, speaks of the symbols associated with the justice system with a voice that reflects the modernity of our times. A key element of that language is Reynobond® ACM from Alcoa Architectural Products.

The 13,600 sq. ft. Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies serves as a tool for Oberlin College (OH) students to learn how nature works and how humans interact with it. The Center is composed entirely of materials selected for their ability to contribute to a green building – including STYROFOAM™ Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Insulation. Several years after its completion, the building continues to inspire a generation of architects committed to designing functional yet innovative buildings that combat rising utility costs, economic dependency on foreign oil, climate change, natural resource depletion and landfill issues.

Morin, a Kingspan Group Company, contributed its single element Standing Seam Series Panels fabricated from Galvalume® to the recently-completed St. Elizabeth Seton Gymnasium in Oakland, CA. The 10,400 square-foot gym doubles as a community room and was designed to complement the aesthetics of the neighboring church sanctuary.

Approximately 25,000 sq. ft. of RHEINZINK® 0.8mm/22 gauge Preweathered Flat-Lock Tiles and perforated panels were used as a key design element for the expansion of the Boston Children’s Museum. The $47 million expansion and renovation project was designed by Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc., Cambridge, MA. The design was conceived to augment the strong, simple mass of the existing warehouse structure while creating a new look for the museum. The design also takes full advantage of the dramatic waterfront site.

A woven metal mesh shading system from Cambridge Architectural exudes modern flair, while providing solar shading and ventilation for the Academic Instructional Center on the campus of Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. The 120,000-square-foot facility incorporates a number of green building elements, and the University has applied for its LEED certification. By employing streamlined and sustainable concepts like metal fabric shading, the Academic Instructional Center has been able to reduce energy usage and optimize building operations. Cambridge mesh contributes to the daylighting and views section of LEED by decreasing glare and improving quality of light.