NetApp, a company specializing in storage and data management solutions, purchased three empty buildings in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Region as part of their East Coast business expansion plan. Renovating Building 1 - to accommodate research labs, product development and customer service functions - was the company’s first priority. Metal wall systems from CENTRIA played a major role in the renovation.

The initial phase of the project involved the customization of the first three floors and the lobby. The final phase entailed completing the building’s fourth floor. Through the use of bold color, slotting and layering of different planes and profiles, and nontraditional building materials, NetApp’s creative, cutting edge culture is now fully reflected in their surroundings.

CENTRIA’s Formawall Dimension Series products were selected for NetApp’s project because of their outstanding performance features, as well as their superior benefits in terms of sustainability and aesthetics - key priorities of the renovation.

Formawall Dimension Series is the only wall system that provides both advanced thermal efficiency and moisture control in a single panelized component, especially important given the humid North Carolina climate. The integrated wall components and the system’s ability to provide designers with virtually unlimited possibilities in form, color and texture were important to the building’s ability to reflect the high-tech, innovative culture of the area. In keeping with the project’s emphasis on sustainability, both Formawall Dimension Series products are Cradle to Cradle® Certification recipients at the Silver Level.

Finally, CENTRIA products provided benefits in terms of aesthetics. Using Formawall Dimension Series 2”-thick panels in conjunction with the 3” DS-60 Profile option available in Formawall Dimension Series, enabled the architects to create a sleek, elegant exterior that exemplified the innovation inside that will help create the next generation of information technology.

The architect for the NetApp project was O’Brien/Atkins Associates, PA of Durham, NC; the CENTRIA products dealer/installer was SPS Corporation of Apex, NC; and the contractor was Choate Construction of Raleigh, NC. The 124,000 sq. ft. facility was completed in December 2009.

CENTRIA products used on the NetApp project included:

• Formawall® Dimension Series® 2" Horizontal. Square Feet: 15,372; Color: Silversmith; Finish: Embossed; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: 22/26.

• Formawall® Dimension Series® DS-60 2”. Square Feet: 13,723; Color: Silversmith; Finish: Embossed; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: 22/26.