Lyman Elementary School and Abner Creek Elementary School, Spartanburg County, S.C.
by Jonathan McGaha | June 30, 2010 12:00 am
Merging with the Sky: Metal ceilings create distinct visuals for two elementary schools
Newly constructed Lyman Elementary School and Abner Creek Elementary School in Spartanburg County, S.C., are identical in terms of layout and floor plan. To establish a unique identity for each school, the design team created two distinctively different metal ceilings that top off two of the most public spaces in the schools-the cafetorium and media center.
“We wanted to do something that was going to be bold and attractive, and also give them low maintenance,” said Brian Deichman, the principal in charge of the project for McMillan, Pazdan and Smith, Spartanburg, S.C.
The design team decided to use metal ceilings. They chose MetalWorks DH700 Custom Faceted Ceiling Systems for Lyman and MetalWorks Vector ceilings for Abner Creek, both from Armstrong Ceilingss, Lancaster, Pa. A total of 18,200 square feet (1,691 m2) of metal ceilings were used.
To achieve a key design goal of differentiation between the two schools, the eye-catching Lyman ceilings feature a series of narrow arches that radiate left to right, while the Abner Creek ceilings feature a series of overlapping ceiling planes that radiate front to back and create the effect of one large arch.
The ceilings in both schools are oriented in such a way to complement the arch of the stage in the cafetoriums and the clerestory windows in the media centers. In addition, three shades of blue- Siesta Key Blue, Atlantis Blue and Dahlia Blue- were selected for the metal ceilings in both schools.
Deichman said the light blue coloring of the ceiling was meant to merge visually with the sky. The sky visual can have a calming effect on young children.
The architects had used curved ceilings in the past, but they were usually created using traditional mineral fiber acoustical lay-in tiles. It took some convincing, according to Deichman, to sell the client on the unusual and somewhat expensive choice of metal ceilings.
Going with metal made the project that much more distinct, though, while still finishing within budget, and Deichman pointed out the schools won’t have to worry about replacing ceiling tiles over and over again. Although you can barely tell by looking at them, the metal is perforated, which encourages acoustics in the rooms, as well. The schools have been very pleased with the results, and Deichman said he would consider working more with metal ceilings in the future.
“We’ve used several clouds or trim pieces here and there, done some of the waves and accents,” Deichman said. “Never as the entire ceiling in a school project like that.”
“Aesthetically, the ceilings are definitely one of the more dramatic architectural features of each school,” Deichman added. “Their acoustics, low maintenance and long service life also add to their appeal.”
Lyman Elementary School and Abner Creek Elementary School, Spartanburg County, S.C.
Completed: September 2008
Building owner: Spartanburg County District Five
Architect: McMillan, Pazdan and Smith, Spartanburg, S.C., www.mcmillanpazdansmith.com
General contractor: Lyman: Melloul-Blamey, Greenville,
S.C.; Abner Creek: Martin Engineering, White Rock, S.C.
Metal installer: Bonitz Contracting Co., Greenville
Metal ceilings: Armstrong Ceilings, Lancaster, Pa., www.armstrongceilings.com
Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/projects/lyman-elementary-school-and-abner-creek-elementary-school-spartanburg-county-sc-brwinner-mcmillan-pazdan-and-smith-spartanburg-sc/