flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Colorful corrugated wall panels provide bright new look for community library

Sponsored Content Metals

Colorful corrugated wall panels provide bright new look for community library

Approximately 2,600 sq. ft. of PAC-CLAD 7/8” Corrugated Panels in five different colors was just what the design team was looking for.


By Petersen Aluminum | April 28, 2017

The new Sharpsburg Community Library in Sharpsburg, Pa., is making a splash in this small town a few miles north of Pittsburgh. Instead of the one-story concrete block building library patrons previously frequented, they now have a vivid, multi-colored facility that has become a highlight of the town.

The architectural design, created by Front Studio Architects in Pittsburgh, offers an exterior featuring bold geometric shapes and bright colors. “It would be hard to miss the building’s new design,” said library director Kathy Amrhein. Front Studio principal Art Lubetz elaborated, saying, “Color is the easiest button to push to get an emotional response.”

Front Studio Architects initially was hired to design an addition on the back of the existing library building. “But it was such an unattractive structure that we just couldn’t do it. So we came up with the idea of literally surrounding the building with simple, elemental blocks that would be individually colored so that we would have this pulsating, dynamic structure,” Lubetz said.

Approximately 2,600 sq. ft. of PAC-CLAD 7/8” Corrugated Panels in five different colors was just what the design team was looking for. The .032” aluminum panels were finished in Copper Penny, Silver, Cardinal Red, Award Blue and Patina Green.

 

 

The decision to use metal as the primary exterior façade material was made fairly early in the design process. “As soon as we knew we wanted the building to be colorful, metal became the obvious choice for the exterior,” Lubetz said. “We had an extremely minimal budget for the project. PAC-CLAD corrugated metal would be the most economical, long-lasting material we could use. We got involved with Petersen because we like their colors. The contractor bid it out and the price was right.”

Durability and low maintenance were key factors, too. “The longevity of the product was important,” Lubetz said. “This is a little tiny library with little tiny budgets. We knew the PAC-CLAD corrugated wouldn’t require much attention in terms of maintenance. That’s another strong reason we used it.”

Installation of Petersen’s PAC-CLAD material was done by general contractor Franjo Construction in Pittsburgh. Project manager Skip Stein likes the look of the new building. “It certainly sets itself apart from the other construction in the area. It’s almost an amusement park appearance that the kids really like. The architect really did a nice job of mixing and matching the colors,” Stein said.

Corrugated metal continues to be a popular architectural material, Stein notes. “We see corrugated popping up all over the place. This job was relatively straightforward, although the building was irregular and didn’t have many 90-degree corners. That made installation of some of the outside corners a little challenging. But the corrugated really turned out great.”

Architect Lubetz agreed. “I couldn’t be happier with the way the project turned out. And the use of the PAC-CLAD had a lot to do with it,” he said.

The Petersen distributor on the project was Brock Associates in Pittsburgh.

Petersen is long-recognized for its PAC-CLAD metal standing seam roofing products, and also offers metal wall panels including exposed fastener panels, flush panels, composite wall panels, fascia and coping systems, and column covers. All provide the well-known Petersen quality and are available in full 70% PVDF finish in 45 colors on steel and aluminum. Most colors meet LEED, Energy Star and Cool Roof Rating Council certification requirements.

For more information on the complete line of Petersen metal products, call 800-PAC-CLAD or visit pac-clad.com

Tags

Related Stories

| Nov 27, 2013

Wonder walls: 13 choices for the building envelope

BD+C editors present a roundup of the latest technologies and applications in exterior wall systems, from a tapered metal wall installation in Oklahoma to a textured precast concrete solution in North Carolina. 

Sponsored | | Nov 20, 2013

Four faces of curb appeal

The Furniture Row retail center in Charlotte, N.C., incorporates four specialty stores in a distinctive, efficient structure. 

| Nov 18, 2013

The builder’s building

Versatility topped Ron Cleveland’s list of priorities when he and his wife decided to construct a new building in Beaumont, Texas, to accommodate the two businesses they jointly own. Cleveland also wanted to create a structure that would serve as an effective marketing tool for his construction firm. An 11,526-sf custom metal office building met both goals.

| Nov 15, 2013

Metal makes its mark on interior spaces

Beyond its long-standing role as a preferred material for a building’s structure and roof, metal is making its mark on interior spaces as well. 

| Oct 30, 2013

Metal roof design tips: The devil is in the details

This AIA/CES-approved presentation provides information regarding proper design to prevent possible infiltration from the roof system into the building. It also works as a guide when designing a roof to allow for proper water runoff.

| Oct 28, 2013

Metal roofs are topping more urban dwellings

Given their durability and ease of use, metal roofs have been a common feature on rural houses for decades. Now they’re becoming an increasingly popular choice on urban dwellings as well. 

| Oct 23, 2013

Some lesser-known benefits of metal buildings

While the durability of metal as a construction material is widely recognized, some of its other advantages are less commonly acknowledged and appreciated.  

| Oct 18, 2013

Researchers discover tension-fusing properties of metal

When a group of MIT researchers recently discovered that stress can cause metal alloy to fuse rather than break apart, they assumed it must be a mistake. It wasn't. The surprising finding could lead to self-healing materials that repair early damage before it has a chance to spread. 

Building Enclosure Systems | Mar 13, 2013

5 novel architectural applications for metal mesh screen systems

From folding façades to colorful LED displays, these fantastical projects show off the architectural possibilities of wire mesh and perforated metal panel technology.

| Mar 6, 2013

Centria announces leadership changes

CENTRIA President Mark Sherwin has announced his retirement beginning April 1, 2013. Sherwin has served as president of CENTRIA, an industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of architectural metal wall and roof systems, for more than 17 years.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021