Award-Winning Arena Featuring ALPOLIC Transforms Austin's Entertainment Scene

The Moody Center, a $375 million multi-purpose arena, has been a revelation for the University of Texas and the Austin music scene. A cooperative venture led by Oak View Group, the Gensler-designed project has been a celebrated success, winning awards in design, entertainment, and sustainability. The state-of-the-art 530,000 square-foot venue is the new home of the UT Longhorns basketball and the 15,000-seat arena also hosts live entertainment, including this year’s CMT Music Awards.

Meticulously planned, award-winning design

Warm wood tones and crisp metal paneling formed into curves and staggering levels create a sense of movement around the facility. A large expanse of glass encourages natural light and a sense of connection with the downtown Austin cityscape. 67,000 square feet of ALPOLIC®/fr metal composite materials were used in the Moody Center design in three custom finishes, fabricated and installed by KSC, Inc. ALPOLIC MCM features prominently on the Southwest Gate and the fascia of the arena’s eye-catching roof, in a custom dark bronze finish.

The striking fin sunshades help reduce direct solar exposure and assist in energy performance in this LEED Gold-certified project. In a feat of clever engineering, the attachment system for the fins is partially hidden by the MCM paneling. It’s a design that requires precision and expertise only possible by established fabricators like KSC, who were called in early for design assistance.

“The challenge there was we had to come up with a way to mount those fins behind the MCM panels,” explained Vince Neault, business development manager at KSC. “So we designed a kind of a unique U-shaped mounting bracket that had to be positioned exactly between the joints to coincide with the width of the panels.” KSC laser-scanned the building throughout the construction process and maintained a remarkably precise tolerance level of plus or minus 1/32 of an inch. “That was critical. That whole process was very very tricky.”

The fabricator was further challenged with a hard deadline. The entertainment venue had started to book shows before construction was completed and KSC ran 24/7, in multiple shifts, to get MCM panels fabricated and in place before the first concert. “We went in with a commitment. The blood that flows in our veins is get it done.” 

For Neault, having the right people and the right technology is important, and so is making sure you have the right product. At KSC, ALPOLIC metal composite materials are the first choice. An industry veteran, Neault declares, “In all my years in metal panels, I've had zero failures with all ALPOLIC. With these very critical projects, we don't go anywhere else. It's that simple. The product line is tremendous. And the service is great.” 

MCM a top choice for hospitality and entertainment design

High-profile entertainment facilities like the Moody Center require safe and durable materials to maintain their appearance for years. With an industry-leading warranty, ALPOLIC stands behind its product like no other, providing a beautiful look that lasts.

Request samples today and let ALPOLIC MCM inspire your next design.

^{Photography by Chase Daniel for ALPOLIC}

Company Information:

ALPOLIC Metal Composite Materials
800.422.7270
[email protected]
www.alpolic-americas.com