As programs of study in higher education must evolve to better prepare students for their chosen careers, so also must the environments in which they learn. Ontario’s Fleming College, established in the late 1960s, realized the need for a full overhaul of its main campus to stay competitive and to accommodate nearly seventeen thousand full and part-time students.
Commissioned to renovate the Sutherland Campus A-Wing building, the architectural firm Gow Hastings faced the challenge of renovation while students and faculty continued to use the facilities. Modernizing classrooms to provide updated curricula and common areas for comfort in study required a thorough evaluation of the building.
As originally built, the A-Wing lacked color and opportunities for natural lighting to brighten the interior. The previous dark brown cladding on the exterior, while consistent with the college’s environmental surroundings, appeared outdated and moody. One of the first steps in the revitalization involved stripping away the entire envelope down to its steel frames for a retrofit. During the specification of materials, the architects chose ALPOLIC MCM.
![Easy to perforate and install, ALPOLIC metal composite materials allow for regulation of natural light](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Interior%20view%20of%20Fleming%20College%20A%20Wing%20building%20with%20ALPOLIC%20MCM%20%281%29.jpg)
Nearly Limitless Design with Endless Finishes and Fabrication Possibilities
Thanks to a solid partnership with Sherwin Williams Coil Coatings, ALPOLIC’s ability to produce any hue onto their metal composite materials presented the Gow Hastings team with the desired colors for this project. Nearly 40,000 square feet of MCM in nine different finishes–including five different whites, two shades of yellow, charcoal, and Mica Anodic Clear–were fabricated and installed.
![Nine different ALPOLIC metal composite material finishes clad the renovated exterior of Fleming College's A Wing building](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Side%20view%20of%20Fleming%20College%20A%20Wing%20Building%20with%20ALPOLIC%20metal%20composite%20materials%20%281%29.jpg)
Rather than retrofit flat panels throughout the envelope as in the original design, Gow Hastings envisioned sections of the building with the MCM installed at different angles to create a visually stunning accordion effect. Panels installed over smaller windows were also perforated to draw natural light into the building, an attractive complement to the addition of floor-to-ceiling windows in the common pavilion areas.
![ALPOLIC MCM cladding on the renovated envelope of Fleming College A Wing building, installed at angles for aesthetic design](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Fleming%20College%20A%20Wing%20with%20ALPOLIC%20MCM%20exterior%20cladding%20%281%29.jpg)
The result presented a cheerful, colorful exterior indicative of the contemporary image Fleming College wished to project. Since its completion in 2020, the A-Wing Building has received several distinctions, among them recognition as a Finalist in the Public Space Design category of the 2021 SBID Awards and a Merit Award in ARCHITECT’s 2023 Architecture and Interiors Award for Adaptive Reuse.
MCM is Ideal for Retrofit Architectural Projects
Often, the decision to retrofit is inspired by a dedication to green building. To bring an older building up to current energy code standards, wrapping the building in continuous insulation and cladding with MCM delivers both energy efficiency and visual appeal. ALPOLIC’s virtually 100% recyclable materials are manufactured with sustainability in mind and come with some of the industry’s best finish warranties.
Retrofitting projects, as opposed to a complete tear-down and rebuild, is not only better for the environment but it can save money in the long run. Redesign with sustainable MCM and the cost savings can add up quickly—less upfront cost, low maintenance costs, less construction time, and the potential for improved energy efficiency. Composite is the ideal choice because of its design flexibility and the variety of colors and finishes.
Cladding existing facades with ALPOLIC MCM injects new life into a project and contributes to its increased energy efficiency and safety. As exemplified by Fleming College’s A Wing, the application of ALPOLIC metal composite materials modernizes a building’s appearance and the reputation of the campus. With infinite colors available, and the best warranty in the industry, ALPOLIC puts on a fresh, lasting face.
For more information on design and specification of MCM in contemporary architecture, schedule an AIA Lunch and Learn session. ALPOLIC presently offers four free accredited AIA/CES Learning Units (HSW).
Company Information:
ALPOLIC Metal Composite Materials
800.422.7270
info@alpolic.com
www.alpolic-americas.com
Related Stories
| Feb 19, 2014
AIA class: The ABCs of IMPs – How to design and build with insulated metal panels
This AIA/CES class offers insight in areas including policies and codes surrounding insulated metal panels, contributions from LEED and tax credits, energy modeling, and business development opportunities available with IMPs. Take this course and earn 1.0 AIA LU/HSW/SD.
| Feb 13, 2014
Why you should start with a builder
They say the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Expanding your building or constructing a new structure for your business, church, or school isn’t all that different. Attacking it is best done in small, deliberate pieces.
| Feb 6, 2014
New Hampshire metal building awes visitors
Visitors to the Keene Family YMCA in New Hampshire are often surprised by what they encounter. Liz Coppola calls it the “wow factor.” “Literally, there’s jaw dropping,” says Coppola, director of financial and program development for the Keene Family YMCA.
| Feb 5, 2014
CENTRIA Redefines Coating System with Versacor® Elite
The Versacor Elite Coating System is a premium metal coating system that provides the highest level of protection in the harshest climatic or environmental conditions.
| Jan 30, 2014
What to expect in the metal building industry in 2014
Every year brings changes. This one won’t be any different. We’ll see growth in some areas, declines in others. Here’s a little preview of what we’ll be writing about 2014 when 2015 comes rolling in.
| Jan 28, 2014
White Paper: How metal buildings deliver long-term value to schools
A new white paper from Star Building Systems outlines the benefits of metal buildings for public and private school building projects.
| Jan 23, 2014
Think you can recognize a metal building from the outside?
What looks like brick, stucco or wood on the outside could actually be a metal building. Metal is no longer easily detectable. It’s gotten sneakier visually. And a great example of that is the Madison Square retail center in Norman, Okla.
| Jan 13, 2014
Custom exterior fabricator A. Zahner unveils free façade design software for architects
The web-based tool uses the company's factory floor like "a massive rapid prototype machine,” allowing designers to manipulate designs on the fly based on cost and other factors, according to CEO/President Bill Zahner.
| Dec 16, 2013
Is the metal building industry in a technology shift?
Automation is the future you can’t avoid, though you may try. Even within the metal building industry—which is made up of skilled tradesmen—automation has revolutionized, and will continue revolutionizing, how we work.
| Dec 10, 2013
16 great solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors
From a crowd-funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restrooms, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem-solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.