To break up expansive elevations on H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB’s distribution center in Ajax, Ontario, Canada, Baldassarra Architects Inc. designed walls with a variety of materials. Insulated metal panels (IMPs) in two contrasting colors and patterns, accent fins, and dark glazing reduce the scale of the 66,578 m2 (716,646 sf) warehouse.
Tony Baldassarra principal at Baldassarra Architects, says using IMPs and other materials de-emphasizes the length of the building and provides flexibility for future changes. “IMPs are a versatile and flexible material in the sense that making changes to opening sizes/locations can be done with relative ease; this can make design changes easier in the event that a tenant comes on board and requires modifications to the existing design,” he says.
In total, Frost Building Systems Inc. installed 10,683 m2 (115,000 sf) of Kingspan Insulated Panels Inc.’s IMPs. At corners of the building with entrances, Frost Building installed Kingspan’s KarrierPanel IMPs in Charcoal Grey.
On the building’s wide walls, Frost Building installed Kingspan’s Kingspan Insulated Panels Inc. KS Series Shadowline IMPs in Imperial White. In joinery between the Shadowline IMPs, Frost Building installed Kingspan’s 152-mm wide (6-in. wide) Accent Fins in Charcoal Grey.
Owner: H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB, Stockholm, Sweden
Developers: Connor, Clark and Lunn Financial Group Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, cclfg.cclgroup.com, Crestpoint Real Estate Investments Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, crestpoint.cclgroup.com, and Nicola Wealth Management Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, nicolawealth.com
Architect: Baldassarra Architects Inc., Vaughan, Ontario, www.baldassarra.ca
General contractor: TriAxis Construction Ltd., Toronto, Ontario
Installer: Frost Building Systems Inc., Brantford, Ontario, frostinc.ca
Metal wall panels: Kingspan Insulated Panels Inc., Deland, Fla., www.kingspan.com
