Organized Transformation

Metal is one of the most visually transformative materials used in the design. Darien, Ill.-based design-builder Wight and Co. used metal composite material (MCM) to great effect outside and inside the building. The look of the exterior completely changed by switching from masonry to silver, gray and white metal panels and a large curtainwall, which is framed by the metal. Metal walls also unify and organize the existing building and new addition. Inside, MCM panels extend into the lobby and large meeting hall.

“Metal panel was chosen to easily integrate the new with the old,” says Jason Dwyer, AIA, LEED AP, group president, design and construction at Wight.

Curtainwall Frame

In particular, metal panels frame the main architectural feature outside, a curtainwall that runs across the entire east side of the building, where the entrance is. The entrance pierces through one part of the curtainwall, and the other part, which has signage, is opaque and back-lit.

“The metal panel creates almost a picture frame wrap to the custom light-wall that displays the union logo and ‘Local 134’ text to further accentuate branding,” Dwyer says. “We created the illuminated LED light-wall as an expression of what the electrical union does, the union’s positive work in the community, and a way to highlight their pride in what they do.”

Similarly, there is another LED-lit glass signage wall in the large meeting hall behind a raised stage. “LED lighting was used throughout to achieve our goals of energy efficiency and modern product use,” Dwyer says.

Around the curtainwall, Sobotec Ltd., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, fabricated, and Architectural Panel Systems Inc., Naperville, Ill., installed, Davidson, N.C.-based 3A Composites USA Inc.’s ALUCOBOND PLUS MCM in two of the three colors used in the project: Ridgedale Silver and Gray Velvet Mica. Tubelite Inc., Walker, Mich., supplied the curtainwall, and CAD Contract Glazing Inc., Wheeling, Ill., installed it.

Expressive Metal

Another way Wight used metal to organize the building and give it identity was by designing the exterior to express the uses of interior spaces. “We wanted the building massing and use of materials to accentuate the spaces that were housed within,” Dwyer says. “The glass curtainwall volume accentuates the entry and pre-function space, and presents an inviting face to the public way. The predominantly opaque metal panel-clad mass at the south end and the illuminated signage wall accentuate the member meeting space and hall.”

In terms of colors, Ridgedale Silver MCM was used for most of the cladding on the large meeting hall volume and west façade of office space. Grey Velvet Mica MCM was used as an accent on the west façade, and Bone White MCM was used at the main entry portal. “[The colors of MCM] were selected as part of the overall design aesthetic to achieve the modern look and permanence of building expression we were striving for,” Dwyer says.

Interior Metal

Continuing the expression of metal, MCM panels extend into the lobby, connecting with the exterior and emphasizing the space’s importance. In the large meeting hall, perforated panels with the same type of MCM were used in an acoustical application, which also underscores the significance of that space, and connects with the other MCM uses in the project.

Dwyer says, “[MCM] was used at the entry portal to the member meeting hall from the lobby and pre-function space to continue the expression of the main entry from the exterior. It was also used in the interior of the member meeting hall in a perforated acoustical system to carry the same aesthetic and feel as the exterior of that volume, while providing durability and acoustical treatment to the large volume space.”

Full Retrofit

Metal had other roles in the retrofit project, which was comprehensive. The addition at the south side of the existing building has a steel-framed structure, and is separated from the existing building with a firewall. To arrive at the finished, 70,000-square-foot facility, a portion of the existing 71,000-square-foot school building was demolished, a portion was retrofitted and an addition was built.

Specifically, about 20,000 square feet were demolished because the layout didn’t align with the new building’s space requirements. Approximately 48,000 square feet were retrofitted into offices and support spaces, and a 22,000-square-foot addition was built to house the entrance lobby and large meeting hall.

Renovating the existing building to meet current building codes and interfacing the existing and new buildings presented design and construction challenges, Dwyer says. “There were some challenges with this being a retrofit as there was no documentation of the existing structure, and the code requirements have changed since the building was originally built. We had to reinforce existing concrete structure and work around building utility tunnels in the construction of the new building. Additionally, there was a tight floor-to-floor height in the building, so a more open, exposed structure office layout was utilized to maximize the volumes. However, even with the challenges of the retrofit, the money saved in utilizing much of the existing structure for the office allowed for some upgrade materials and systems, and allowed the entire scope of the project to be achieved within the project budget.”