The South Texas Research Facility is the newest addition to the University of South Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. The length of approximately three football fields, this $150 million facility provides an additional 200,000 square feet of medical research space. The increase in space will enable the university to hire an additional 120 to 160 new researchers, clinicians and scientists. Unlike traditional high-rise medical facilities, the South Texas Research Facility features a horizontal, bar-like design that allows for open meeting and research spaces designed to encourage cross-departmental collaboration. Featured in the design are architectural metal products from CENTRIA.

A premier medical institution in the region, the facility will focus on translational medical research and health problems relevant to the south Texas region, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In addition, the new structure will house six previously fragmented medical programs: Centers for Adult Cancer, Regenerative Medicine, Neurosciences and Healthy Aging, as well the Institute for Integration of Medicine and Sciences and South Texas Technology Management. Each of the facility’s new labs has an open-plan design and is meant to be shared across disciplines to foster the sharing of ideas and discoveries. The labs are equipped with large windows for abundant daylighting and have adjustable-height workspaces to comply with the needs of any research team. In addition the building features a conference center, offices and support space.

CENTRIA’s Profile Series Style-Rib Exposed Fastener Profiles were chosen because they offer a unique profile that creates a contemporary look and feel on the exterior of the facility. With the option to install the Profile Series panels vertically or horizontally, these versatile panels provided the design team with unlimited options in terms of form, color and texture. In addition, they can be insulated to meet many levels of thermal protection and provide excellent negative wind load properties. The Gray Velvet color provided an excellent complement to the Silversmith color of the other CENTRIA products and lent both consistency and depth to the exterior aesthetic.

CENTRIA’s Concept Series Concealed Fastener Profiles with MicroSeam® Corners provided a unique design solution because their common lock joints allow panels to be mixed freely in order to create custom aesthetics. These single-skin panels can be installed both vertically and horizontally to provide a clean, unbroken appearance, allowing for interesting visual effects. CS-260 created dramatic lines providing a contemporary and clean façade. The silver Concept Series was integrated with the brick exterior, creating contrast and giving the facility a modernistic feel, representative of the cutting-edge research conducted inside daily. MicroSeam Corners use cutting-edge structural bonding techniques to produce corners that appear virtually seamless. Manufactured from the same substrate coil as the panels, MicroSeam Corners eliminate riveting, welding and post-painting.

The project architects were Rafael Vinoly Architects of New York, NY, and Kirksey Architecture of Houston, TX; the contractor was Vaughn Construction of Universal City, TX; the CENTRIA products dealer was Wade Architectural Systems of Humble, TX; and the CENTRIA products installer was Byrne Metals of Porter, TX.

CENTRIA products used on this project included:

• Concept Series CS-260. Square Feet: 18,827; Color: Silversmith; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Duraguard® Plus; Gauge: 22.

• Profile Series Exposed Fastener Panels Style-Rib. Square Feet: 34,694; Color: Gray Velvet; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Duraguard® Plus; Gauge: 22.

• MicroSeam® Corners.