A random pattern of bold, red metal wall panels creates a stand-out look for the new Alma Brewer Strawn Elementary School in Lytton Springs, Texas. Named for a long-time educator in the Lockhart Independent School District, the school serves 500 pre-K through 5th grade students.
A focal point of architectural design for the 58,000-sq.-ft. facility is 11,000 sq. ft. of vertically installed PAC-CLAD Flush Panels from Petersen in three shades of red. The 24-gauge panels were finished in Cardinal Red, Colonial Red and Burgundy. An additional 5,800 sq. ft. of Flush Soffit Panels in Slate Gray also was installed. Further contributing to the design was more than 16,000 sq. ft. of Petersen’s Horizontal Wall Panels (HWP) finished in Slate Gray.
The colorful architectural design with multiple PAC-CLAD profiles was created by Huckabee in Austin, Texas. The firm specializes in designing learning environments.
“We liked the playfulness of the random red panels for this elementary school application,” said Brian Cotsworth, Huckabee project manager. “And the metal panels also helped bring down the scale of the building. The profiles really complement one another and blend well with the limestone on the lower level. It’s a progressive design that everyone really appreciates.”
The design team at Huckabee specified PAC-CLAD products after looking at various panel manufacturers’ color selections. “They liked the Petersen reds,” said Jesse Brown, vice president at installer Dean Contracting Co. in Kyle, Texas. “The random color blending of the vertical Flush Panels was definitely a creative challenge,” Brown recalled. “We had a rough schematic of the pattern and did a mockup for everyone’s review. After a few tweaks, the architect was comfortable with our guys creating the random pattern of red panels. They really make a bold, dramatic statement.”
Brown also commented on the good relationship that Dean Contracting Co. has with Petersen. “The folks at the Tyler, Texas, plant are always very responsive. In today’s competitive market and with the speed of commercial construction, we’re being asked to do more in less and less time. Having good support from Petersen helps us be extremely competitive.”