The Indianapolis Motor Speedway comes to life inside the new Indy Collision Center in Fishers, Ind. Built by Indianapolis-based T&W Corp., an Eufaula, Ala.-based American Buildings Co.‘s Authorized Builder, the IndyCar-inspired shop features authentic “brickyard” bricks from the earlier days at the racetrack at the entryway and an Indy racecar mounted high above the lobby. The center’s balcony sports a Winner’s Circle railing.
The collision center is made up of a 5,500-square-foot office and 9,500-square-foot, 18-bay vehicle repair facility. The production shop features a pre-engineered metal building system from American Buildings, while the two-story office is built with masonry and conventional steel. Darren L. Peterson, AIA, principal architect at Peterson Architecture, Noblesville, Ind., notes that the zoning ordinance did not allow for a metal building. “We worked diligently with the planning staff to achieve a mutually beneficial, cost-effective, overlay compliant and aesthetically pleasing solution,” he says.
To provide a striking appearance for the collision center, the front of the offices feature ALPOLIC aluminum composite material (ACM) panels from Mitsubishi Plastics Composites America Inc., Chesapeake, Va., while a glass entryway enhances the building’s curb appeal. Inside, skylights and reflective white liner panels, both from American Buildings, naturally brighten the production shop. For the production shop, American Buildings supplied its Architectural II wall panels in Pearl Gray and Galvalume Standing Seam II roof panels.
According to Peterson, the ACM panels gave the owner the look and feel they wished to achieve for the collision center, which was a very sleek and professionally polished look. The metal wall and roof panels were used with the pre-engineered building system for cost effectiveness, while maintaining a professional appearance.
The project required the architects to rethink the use of very conventional, yet distinctly separate systems, Peterson says. Additionally, he notes the detailing of the variety of materials and the transition between the two buildings creates a clean, sleek look.
“We enjoyed working with the owner on a very unique program and different way of thinking about collision work, as well as, a very professional contractor to achieve this very appropriate and successful project,” Peterson adds.
Indy Collision Center, Fishers, Ind.
Award: First place in the 2014 ABC Excellence in Design Awards in the Commercial category
Architect:
Peterson Architecture, Noblesville, Ind.
Builder: T & W Corp., Indianapolis
ACM fabricator/installer: Centurion Industries Inc., Garrett, Ind.
Aluminum composite material panels: ALPOLIC by Mitsubishi Plastics Composites America Inc., Chesapeake, Va., www.alpolic-americas.com
Metal building system/skylights/liner panels: American Buildings Co., Eufaula, Ala., www.americanbuildings.com