The new Law Enforcement Center in Elkhart, IN, is a joint venture with the Indiana Department of Administration and the Indiana State Police. The office and training center is the first building in the state to co-locate four law enforcement agencies. The high-tech facility functions as an Indiana State Police post and also houses components of three additional Indiana law enforcement entities. Covering a portion of the new building's exterior are rainscreen wall panels from Dri-Design.

The Dri-Design Wall Panel System is an affordable dry-joint, pressure-equalized rainscreen system. Approximately 4,300 sq. ft. of Dri-Design .080" aluminum panels, finished in Musket Gray, Granite and custom State Police Blue, were utilized. Panel sizes ranged from 1’ x 2’ to 4’ x 4’, with colors and sizes installed in a random design pattern.

Architectural design for the $5 million project was provided by American Structurepoint, Inc., Indianapolis. IN. The challenging design program required balancing the needs of diverse users in one seamless office space while retaining an individual identification for each, according to Dan Weinheimer, head of American Structurepoint’s architectural group.

“This was our first time to use the Dri-Design system,” Weinheimer said. “The panels gave us a clean, sharp look without the caulking and sealant that can degrade over time. And the Dri-Design worked well with the structural system which was insulated concrete forms. The colored panels integrated with the staggered pattern that we had created with the glazing to create the distinctive checkerboard effect.”

Installation of the panels was done by Schust Engineering, Inc., Fort Wayne, IN. The Dri-Design distributor was Spohn Associates, Indianapolis.

Dri-Design panels can be made from a variety of materials including painted aluminum, zinc, copper and stainless steel and are 100% recyclable. Panels are available in any Kynar color in both standard and custom sizes.