Built in the 1960s, the James M. Bennett High School, Salisbury, Md., had not been updated in more than 30 years and was nearly 300 students over capacity. After considering a renovation and exploring other options, school administrators decided the time had come to build a new facility. According to Brian Foret, director of facilities for the Wicomico County School District, the new school was envisioned to be a staple of sustainability in efficiency and performance.
Metal was chosen to meet the goal of creating a sustainable and contemporary facility. Foret, an architect, has the industry knowledge and experience to understand the critical role of a properly designed roof in the overall performance of a building. After spending a significant amount of money to repair deteriorating roofs several years ago, the district implemented a strict roof management plan to ensure roofs achieve their maximum service life. During the initial stages of design, Foret helped convey the district’s vision of a sustainable and contemporary 21st century school to the architectural firm, Becker Morgan Group, Salisbury. Foret also emphasized the district’s desire for a design that incorporated sloped metal roofs.
The use of metal offers the guarantee of long-term, watertight protection in addition to providing the modern look the district was hoping to achieve. The facility features 120,000 square feet of 24-gauge, 16-inch-wide R-Mer Span structural standing seam roof panels in Cadet Grey from The Garland Co. Inc., Cleveland. The panels range in size from 80 to 190 feet and were rollformed on-site to create continuous panels that ensure watertight protection. The use of metal broadened the ability of the architectural firm to incorporate various slopes and angles into the design of the 220,000-square-foot facility, helping to increase its aesthetic value. As an added benefit, R-Mer Span panels feature a symmetrical design that allow for easy installation.
The panels are also designed to give the building 30 years of watertight protection and the panels are 100 percent recyclable. The panels are certified by UL Environment, a subsidiary of Underwriters Laboratory, Northbrook, Ill., for the incorporation of 9 percent pre-consumer and 44 percent post-consumer recycled content.
The general contractor was the Whiting-Turning Contracting Co., Baltimore, and the panel installer was Cole Roofing Co. Inc., Baltimore.
The Garland Co. Inc., www.garlandco.com
