CMC Design Build of Quincy, Mass., has focused its efforts on serving the food and beverage industry, providing “the greatest levels of efficiency and effectiveness with every project.” Most of the time, CMC specifies metal wall panels from Metl-Span for those projects, including the new Kettle Cuisine plant in Lynn, Mass.

CMC Design Build offers architectural and engineering services with the goal to generate creative and effective solutions, based upon design year volume projections. CMC architectural, engineering and construction teams work together to achieve the goal of delivering a facility that enhances the client’s ability to maximize efficiency.

For the Kettle Cuisine project, CMC specified several Metl-Span products. The 36-inch Architectural Flat panels were in Brick Red and Regal Grey, while the weathered zinc 7.2 Rib panels were installed horizontally. The Thermal Safe 42 and CF 45 panels were white.

“Customers are more sophisticated now than ever before,” says Mark Carnicelli, AIA, of CMC Design Build. “They want a bit of architecture in their buildings, something unique. With the option of vertical and horizontal panels as well as rib panels, Metl-Span helps us supply that for customers. The building envelope is the most important consideration for the food and beverage industry. You can’t skimp on the building envelope.”

Kettle Cuisine was founded in 1986, creating small batch, all natural soups from scratch for restaurants, food service operators, colleges and grocers who “take pride in the food they share with their guests.” In 1986, Kettle Cuisine produced eight soups. By 1994, the company grew to 19 employees and 15 soups. The facility Kettle Cuisine moved into in 2000 was expanded to 65,000 square feet in 2006. The need for a larger, state-of-the-art facility led Kettle Cuisine to CMC.

Carnicelli says there was a time when it was common for manufacturing companies in the food and beverage industry to erect a big white building and open shop. Function was the main – and sometimes only – consideration. The importance of a functional building is still there, but more and more, there is a desire for a unique look created by color and profile variety.

“Metl-Span panels seem to be a simple and effective method of tongue-and-groove installation,” says Bill Roy, project manager for CMC. “It’s a lightweight panel which makes it maneuverable for the installers and most importantly, it stays together. I’d say we use Metl-Span for 98 percent of our projects, if not more.”