Sensible Security: Metal plays a key role in low-maintenance facility

by Jonathan McGaha | June 3, 2012 12:00 am

The challenge Guest Reddick Architects Inc., Fort Smith, Ark., faced in designing the 33,000-square-foot Civil Engineering Squadron Headquarters for the Arkansas Air National Guard in Fort Smith, Ark., was to create a secure, sustainable, highly functioning, low-maintenance facility that unites administrative and training areas with those for equipment and supplies, while increasing overall base security. The $7.2 million project was completed in January 2011, and includes a 7,000-square-foot vehicle shed and a 1,475-square-foot inspection shed.

 

Base facilities create a layered hierarchy of security needs, and the new CE building is located near the outer layer, accessible to vendors and the public, while screening the inner layer, the mission critical ramp and aircraft. In addition to meeting ATFP requirements, the facility features a security vehicular courtyard, screened on two sides by buildings.

 

The building is oriented east-west and adopts a vertical warehouse concept to minimize the square footage while maximizing the volume of the warehouse/shops by building double height. The administrative/office areas are immediately adjacent on two levels, facing south to maximize the potential natural daylighting effects and minimize the east-west exposure. The offices overlook a pond and recreation area, and highly sculptural forms at the main entry create appropriate focus.

 

To blend in with the rest of the buildings on base, the LEED Gold certified building features a sloping, bronze colored metal roof and a special “Razorback” brick blend, along with grey metal wall panels. The building’s open sides are almost entirely brick, with a combination of brick and insulated metal wall panels on the walls facing the courtyard and the building’s west end, where a future addition is planned.

 

The project utilized a pre-engineered metal building and approximately 20,000 square feet of SRI-compliant standing seam metal panels from Alliance Steel Inc., Oklahoma City, to help reduce the construction schedule. Some additional standing seam panels were used vertically as architectural accents on a radiused exterior wall and to shelter an exterior stair.

 

Metl-Span, Lewisville, Texas, supplied 7,200 square feet of insulated metal wall panels that were chosen for its insulation factor, speed of insulation and durability. And since the panels were finished on both sides, they allowed a reduction of interior finishes in the areas where the panels were used.

 

“This is the first time our company has used an insulated metal wall panel for the exterior of a building other than in a freezer or cooler situation,” says Travis Beshears, LEED AP, president, Beshears Construction Inc., Fort Smith. “We feel that they worked very well in this application as they provide a well insulated and durable system that can be installed in a single step versus installing metal panels over insulation and then having to install a separate interior panel. This system gives a very clean and consistent look for both the interior and exterior of these walls.”

 

Additionally, metal column covers from Armetco Systems Inc., Justin, Texas, were used at the main entry canopy, and four large, ventilating dormers on the south elevation feature louvers from Schofield, Wis.-based The Airolite Co. LLC. Architectural Glass and Metals, Fort Smith, installed nearly 2,060 square feet of blast-resistant glazing in curtainwall framing from EFCO Corp., Monett, Mo. The project also utilized an Energy Saver FP System by Guardian Building Products, Greer, S.C., and solar panels from Stellar Sun, Little Rock, Ark.

 

“The team knew that to meet a tight design-build schedule, we had to take advantage of the efficiencies of metal building systems and products-but without compromising our aesthetic goals,” says Shannon Reith, Associate AIA, LEED AP, Guest Reddick Architects. “I think all of us are pretty proud of the results.”

 

Civil Engineering Squadron Headquarters, Fort Smith, Ark.

Awards: 2011 Merit Award for Best Project in commercial mixed use under $10 million from the Design Build Institute of America, Mid-America region, and the 2011 Associated Builders & Contractors, Arkansas Chapter Excellence in Construction award for $5-$10 million

Owner: Arkansas Air National Guard, Fort Smith

Architect: Guest Reddick Architects Inc., Fort Smith

General contractor: Beshears Construction Inc., Fort Smith

Curtainwall installer: Architectural Glass and Metals, Fort Smith

Column covers: Armetco Systems Inc., Justin, Texas, www.armetco.com[1]

Curtainwall/storefront/sunshades: EFCO Corp., Monett, Mo., www.efcocorp.com[2]

Insulation: Guardian Building Products, Greer, S.C., www.guardianbp.com[3]

Louvers: The Airolite Co. LLC, Schofield, Wis.,
www.airolite.com[4]

Metal building and roof panels: Alliance Steel Inc., Oklahoma City, www.allianceokc.com[5]

Metal wall panels: Metl-Span, Lewisville, Texas, www.metlspan.com[6]

Photovoltaics: Stellar Sun, Little Rock, Ark.,
www.stellarsun.com[7]

 

*Shields-Marley Photography

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/top-honors-sensible-security/

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