The $15 million Applied Science Center at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., brings needed technology-centered learning to the community. Designed with an industrial feel, Dri-Design Tapered and Perforated Panels create the desired look while adding excitement to the campus.
“Metal panels are the ideal choice when technology is the driving force of a building's purpose and design,” says Brad Zeeff, president of Dri-Design. “For the community college, the dimension of the Tapered panels along with the color selection speak to the high-tech work going on inside.”
The 18,600-square-foot building features 4,800 square feet of 0.080-inch painted aluminum Tapered Series and Perforated Panels. Tapered panels are on both the inside and outside of the building; the panels flow seamlessly to connect the spaces and invite students inside to explore and learn. The panels have Charcoal, Classic Copper and Silver color finishes. LED lighting, used to create shadows and visual interest, highlights the angles of the exterior installation. Merit Metal Products, Oxnard, Calif., installed the panels.
Tapered Series Panels can be angled in any direction with varying depths and degree of slope. This freedom to design each specific panel gives an unlimited capacity to create a dynamic, one-of-a-kind surface on nearly any façade, without the need to modify the substrate or weather barrier. The Perforated Panel Series can be used for applications where airflow and/or shade are necessary, as well as to add design style. Virtually any shape or pattern can be perforated into the panels. In this case, the name of the building is prominently displayed in the perforated panels.
“Dri-Design’s perforated panels bring both function and style to any building. Something simple, like this name used as a logo, enhances a design and adds to industrial goal,” Zeeff adds.
The center has a visualization classroom with 3D learning capabilities, large classroom for 210 students, career training center with hands-on opportunities, 160-seat lecture hall, outdoor classroom, lobby/circulation space, restrooms and storage areas.