GSSI-October 2024-skscraper
lorin-skyscraper-october-2024

Dearing Elementary School

Petersen Aluminum
www.pac-clad.com
info@pac-clad.com

The 20th and newest elementary school in the Pflugerville Independent School District opened to rave reviews from students, teachers and parents alike. Dearing Elementary School in Texas, which creates more energy than the building consumes, was lauded for its net-zero design. The school features metal rainscreen panels from Petersen.

The new building’s energy-efficient design made a special impression on school principal Christy Chandler. “The school’s amazing. I don’t know if there’s another one like it in the state,” she said. The two-story building uses geothermal heat for both electricity and heating and is equipped with LED lights throughout.

Identified during construction as Pflugerville Elementary School #20, the 93,000 sq. ft. school officially became the Audrey and Leonard Dearing Elementary School honoring a Pflugerville couple that has been active in civic and educational interests. Located on more than 10 acres of land, the school has capacity for 800 students.

Nearly 11,000 sq. ft. of Petersen’s PAC-CLAD Composite rainscreen panels were utilized as a strong design element in both exterior and interior applications. Petersen fabricated the panels at its Tyler, Texas, plant using 4mm Reynobond aluminum composite material (ACM) finished in Copper Penny and Silver Metallic. The Copper Penny panels provide a dramatic look both outside and inside the new school.

The composite wall panels were only 11 5/8-in. wide and 8-ft. long which is an unusual size for ACM, according to Jesse Brown, operations manager at installer Dean Contracting Co. in Kyle, Texas. “The use of the narrow ACM panels with long spans and multiple colors was a vision of the architect to break up the façade,” Brown said. “Traditional ACM panels are generally larger. In this case, the architect wanted just the opposite. That added a bit of challenge for Petersen in fabricating the panels and for us in making sure that all of the horizontal and vertical lines matched up so that we could deliver the vision the architect wanted.” Brown was quick to credit Dean Contracting’s project manager Hermilo Sotelo and installer supervisor Javier Nieto for a job well done.

Brown also commented on the use of PAC-CLAD products on an interior application. “It was unique—the ACM transitioned to the interior space through the outside wall and formed an inviting, elevated multi-use space. We paid careful attention to the shop drawings because it was critical to align the seams,” Brown said.

Architectural design for the school was created by Stantec (formally SHW Group in Austin) and incorporates sustainable features to create a building that is innovative and exciting. Grade levels are organized into pod communities with classrooms surrounding a central flex space used for team teaching and large group activities.

The general contractor on the project was Bartlett Cocke General Contractors in Austin. Bartlett Cocke was recognized for its green construction of Dearing Elementary School in Engineering News Record magazine’s annual “Best Projects” awards program in the Texas/Louisiana region.

About Petersen

Petersen Aluminum logoPetersen, a Carlisle company, manufactures PAC-CLAD architectural metal cladding systems in multiple gauges of steel and aluminum. PAC-CLAD products include wall panel systems, standing seam roof panel systems, soffit panels, perforated metal, coil and flat sheet, composite panels, column covers, plus fascia and coping. All are available in a Kynar-based 70% PVDF Fluropon coating in 50 standard colors plus simulated finishes that include a 35-year finish warranty. Most colors meet LEED requirements and are rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council. Custom colors and weathertightness warranties are offered. BIM and CAD documents are available for most products. Founded in 1965, Petersen’s facilities are located in Illinois, Georgia, Texas, Maryland, Arizona and Washington. For information on the complete line of Petersen’s PAC-CLAD metal products, call 800-PAC-CLAD, visit www.pac-clad.com or write to info@pac-clad.com.

facebook40   twitter40    linkedin40    youtube40

^ Back To Top