With a new era comes a new way to build. Independent aerospace systems manufacturer Woodward’s $200 million, 363,000 sq. ft. Lincoln Campus - a project three years in the making and featuring products from CENTRIA - opened for business in 2016. The ribbon-cutting for the industrial turbomachinery systems (ITS) building in Ft. Collins, CO, wrapped up a decade-old dream of a newly renovated facility. Over 140 employees from Woodward’s Drake Road and Lemay Avenue facilities were the first to enter the new campus, which was designed to hold approximately 1,700 occupants.
With a new facility, it was time to make changes to the overall design. Opting out of the traditional cubicle-laden office layout, Ghafari Associates brainstormed a new plan that would provide natural light, patios and balconies overlooking the Poudre River. Wood from locally sourced silver maple and ash trees were used in the stairwells, halls and cafeteria of the corporate and ITS buildings to give the facility a nature-inspired theme.
The offices feature glass cubicles with opacity controls to allow for privacy. In addition, numerous break areas were installed to encourage socialization during breaks.
Ghafari Associates needed to ensure that the contemporary design philosophy of the facility’s interior space was also carried out on the exterior of the redesigned buildings. In particular, the architect specified CENTRIA’s Formawall Dimension Series insulated metal panels to provide a clean aesthetic for workers and visitors alike. Silver, Pewter and Dark Bronze finishes with smooth and striated surfaces all provide a warm, earthy air to the otherwise modern façade.
Ecoscreen Econolap perforated screenwalls were specified to effortlessly blend the buildings with the natural world. The versatile screenwalls grant futuristic design features that add a sleek, airy aesthetic without detracting from the aesthetic qualities of the adjoining insulated metal panels.
Building material performance was just as crucial as the aesthetic elements to the facility as a whole. Located in the oft-chilly, mountainous Ft. Collins, Ghafari Associates needed to specify sturdy, weather-resistant materials that cut installation costs and construction time. 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 the superior weather resistance needed to perform well in its Colorado locale.
Adding the finishing touch to the durability of the facilities, CENTRIA’s Fluorofinish metal coating system enhances the longevity of the buildings’ rich Silver, Pewter and Dark Bronze hues. The coating grants an additional protective layer against weathering agents from the Rocky Mountains, including sunlight, wind, rain and snow, and will allow the aerospace systems manufacturer’s campus to remain vibrant for countless years to come.
The architect was Ghafari Associates of Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI. The CENTRIA products dealer was Gen3 Construction of Denver, CO. The contractor was Mortenson of Minneapolis, MN. The 363,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility was completed in June 2016.
CENTRIA products used on this project included:
• Formawall® Dimension Series® 3”-T Horizontal - Color: Silver; Square Footage: 52,221; Finish: Striated; Coating: Fluorofinish; Gauge: 26.
• Formawall Dimension Series 3”-T Horizontal - Color: Pewter; Square Footage: 31,642; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Fluorofinish; Gauge: 22.
• Formawall Dimension Series 3”-T Horizontal - Color: Dark Bronze; Square Footage: 7,026; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Fluorofinish; Gauge: 22.
• Formawall Dimension Series 3”-T Horizontal - Color: Pewter; Square Footage: 5,571; Finish: Striated; Coating: Fluorofinish; Gauge: 26.
• Formawall Dimension Series 3”-T Vertical - Color: Silver; Square Footage: 2,479; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Fluorofinish; Gauge: 22.
• EcoScreen Econolap - Color: Silver; Square Footage: 2,174; Finish: Perforated.