A part of the Children’s Hospital Of The King’s Daughters, the Princess Anne Office Building is located at the new Sentara Princess Anne Medical campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A signature of the building’s exterior is a curved roof sweep created with aluminum standing seam panels by ATAS International.
Situated on the ocean front, the 60,000 sq. ft. facility is only minutes down the street from an amphitheater on the appropriately-named Concert Drive. With that in mind, the building features a musically-themed environment for pediatric patients, who range in age from infants to 21 year olds. The three-story high building has imaging, therapy and lab facilities on the first floor, with doctors’ offices on the second floor and surgery facilities on the third.
There are many musical cues found throughout the Princess Anne Office Building. Hidden musical symbols are everywhere, from the tiles and walls to the artwork of patients or donors playing different instruments. A stringless laser harp offers entertainment on the third floor, while custom wind chimes are part of the landscaping design.
In response to the building owners’ desire for an alternative to a sloped roof, Joseph Trost from Paul Finch & Associates P.C., Norfolk, VA, introduced the idea of a curved metal roof to match the metal panels on the front of the building. The musical and beach theme were kept in mind by Trost in his design of the soft curve of the roof to emulate an ocean wave. The owners liked the idea and chose the ATAS 1” Field-Lok (FLL175) standing seam panel for the appearance of its thinner seam. The 17½"-wide panels, without plank ribs, were supplied in Bone White color. The 4,375 sq. ft. roof required staggered splice panels to achieve the visual impact of this double curve with a 74’ radius that loops back down to a 300’ radius, creating a concave and convex S-shape.
The standing seam roof was also chosen for its ability to withstand the elements. The panel system was designed to exceed the wind uplift requirement for this structure type, location and environment. Industry standard uplift tests—such as ASTME 1592, UL 580 and UL 1897—are often performed to establish the capability of the panel. Because the building is near the ocean, 0.032 aluminum was chosen as the panel substrate for its ability to resist corrosion from salt and acid rain.
It was also important to have quality paint, such as a KYNAR® 500 PVDF or HYLAR® 5000 PVDF system, to provide both flexibility for the forming operation and superior corrosion protection. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has established voluntary testing standards for performance levels of organic coatings on aluminum extrusions and panels. The standards provide a benchmark for evaluating the quality of various material and panel suppliers. With consideration for the sun’s heat, the Bone White color not only matches the other metal on the building but it is also environmentally friendly and ENERGY STAR® qualified for both low- and steep-slope roofing. A high solar reflectance of 0.7 helps to keep the building cooler during hot summer months.
Trost and the Children’s Hospital of The Kings Daughters decided to leave the underside of the roof open, with an interior liner panel, to follow the same curvature. As a result, visitors can view the striking curve from inside a waiting room, while at night the curved metal roof can change colors thanks to LED lights installed around the atrium.
It was noted by Stevi Jerrold, marketing assistant for ATAS International, that while today’s architects might have the creative vision to use curved metal, making the right decision on material and profile is crucial to achieve the desired result. “There are many opportunities to use curved metal roofing, from actual roofing applications to arched canopies and walkway coverings, mansards and fascia applications,” she said. “Different applications of curved metal roofing come with multiple concerns, including material limitations, a variety of seam and fastener systems, using a solid substrate instead of open framing and convex versus concave curves. These choices and problems can be solved by selecting the right profile for the job at hand.”
Jerrold continued, “There are many types of curved metal roofing, each with its own specific design capabilities. Some options other than the standing-seam panel include curved corrugated panels that offer the architectural detail of smooth ribs, with the flexibility to be used on the facades of buildings as well as the roof; or a structural ribbed panel that supplies dramatic shadows for visual interest and impact.”
The Princess Anne Office Building stands as a testament to the successful application and creative use of curved metal roofing.