The 29,120-square-foot New Orleans Regional Transportation Management Center houses the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) traffic management personnel and New Orleans Regional Planning Commission (RPC). Completed in October 2009, both the DOTD and RPC needed a larger space to help them improve communication among motorists and better utilize their current resources. A variety of architectural metal products from CENTRIA were chosen for the project.

The state-of-the-art facility, located in New Orleans, LA, uses Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology and regional coordination to facilitate better communication among drivers, traffic operations staff, emergency response personnel and others in order to maximize the efficient use of existing roadways. The DOTD traffic management staff monitors real-time traffic information and communicates this information to drivers and emergency response personnel.

CENTRIA’s Profile Series, FormaBond, Formawall Dimension Series and Formavue window system were selected for the New Orleans Regional Transportation Management Center because of their superior benefits in terms of aesthetics, performance and sustainability.

CENTRIA’s Profile Series Style-Rib Exposed Fastener Profiles with MicroSeam corners were chosen because they offer a unique profile that creates a contemporary look and feel on the exterior of the facility. With the option to install the Profile Series panels vertically or horizontally, these versatile panels provided the design team with unlimited options in terms of form, color and texture. Plus, they can be insulated to meet many levels of thermal protection and provide excellent negative wind load properties. The Slate Gray color blended nicely with the Platinum color of the other products and provided both consistency and depth to the exterior aesthetic. Finally, Profile Series achieved Cradle to Cradle® Certification at the Silver Level, making it a smart and sustainable choice.

As a patented, stronger, flatter, finished ACM panel, CENTRIA’s FormaBond is complete with pressure-equalized joinery. The dry joinery eliminates wet seals and provides optimum venting to allow wall cavities to dry effectively while prohibiting the entry of rainwater. FormaBond is manufactured entirely by CENTRIA using a proprietary reaction injection molding process. These revolutionary thin aluminum composite panels, painted in CENTRIA’s Platinum color, provided the facility with super-flat, sharp, crisp sight lines, and gave it a sleek, sophisticated exterior.

CENTRIA’s Formawall Dimension Series was selected for the New Orleans Regional Transportation Management Center project because it achieved Cradle to Cradle® Certification at the Silver Level. In addition to being sustainable, Formawall Dimension Series is the only wall system that provides both advanced thermal efficiency and moisture control in a single panelized component. Due to its unique design, Formawall Dimension Series only requires one installer, which improves efficiency and reduces installation costs. Plus the product offered the architect and design team a broad range of aesthetically appealing options.

CENTRIA’s Formavue FV 400 and FV 300 window systems were selected because they are designed to integrate seamlessly with Formawall Dimension Series, which eliminates problems of coordinating window and metal panel intersections and contributes to the overall smooth look of the facility. While Formavue window systems are aesthetically appealing, they also are weather-resistant and feature a standard thermal break.

The project architect was Sizeler Thompson Brown Architects of New Orleans, LA; the CENTRIA products dealer/installer was F.L. Crane & Sons, Inc. of Fulton, MS; and the contractor was The Shaw Group, Inc. of Baton Rouge, LA.

CENTRIA products used on the New Orleans Regional Transportation Management Center included:

• Profile Series Style-Rib with MicroSeam® Corners. Square Feet: 8,001; Color: Slate Gray; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Duragard; Gauge: 20.

• FormaBond® 8 mm R&R. Square Feet: 2,018; Color: Platinum; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Sundance Mica.

• Formawall® Dimension Series® 2” Horizontal. Square Feet: 1,534; Color: Platinum; Finish: Embossed; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: 22/26.

• Formavue™ FV400 Windows.

• Formavue™ FV300 Windows.