While sustainability ranks high on the list of qualities architects seek to design into today’s educational facilities, durability is equally important. It’s great when building materials are green, but it doesn’t matter if they are not also able to withstand a tremendous amount of wear and tear. The fabricators at Byrne Metals knew that wouldn’t be a problem at San Jacinto College, where ALPOLIC aluminum composite panels had been chosen for the school’s new allied health and natural sciences building.
The new building is located on San Jacinto’s North Campus in Houston, TX. The groundwork for the new building was laid in 2008 with the approval of a $295 million bond measure to fund renovations and new facilities throughout San Jacinto’s Central, North and South campuses.
Completed in 1975, the North Campus development serves more than 6,500 students. Ground was broken for the new health and science building in early 2011 and it was completed in September 2012. The high-tech building boasts more than 130,000 sq. ft. of space, including cutting-edge labs where students get hands-on experience with the latest technological advances in the science and health fields.
To ensure the building met the requirements for durability, while also having a sophisticated appearance, approximately 40,000 sq. ft. of ALPOLIC ACM panels were incorporated into its design. Both PE and fire-resistive cored panels were used around the building’s canopies and entryways, and installed as fascia, interior wall and soffit panels. Panel colors included SDX White Metallic, BSX Silver and Dark Copper Metallic. In addition to handling the fabrication, Humble, TX-based Byrne Metals also installed the ALPOLIC panels.
Those who worked on the project praised ALPOLIC for its ease of use and versatility, and praised the company behind the product, Mitsubishi Plastics Composites America, for its superior customer service.
The new building is currently pending LEED Certification. It was designed by Bay Architects of Houston, with Tellepsen handling the general contracting duties.