To meet numerous project goals for Golden State Assembly LLC’s facility in Morgan Hill, Calif., Reid Lerner Architects specified a variety of metal building products including a metal building system.
The harnesses and electromechanical assemblies manufacturer wanted additional warehouse space and loading docks to support operations in its 7432.24 m2 (80,000 sf) production and distribution center on site.
For a parcel adjacent to the main building, Reid Lerner Architects designed a 3716.12 m2 (40,000 sf) metal building system to connect to the main building. It has recessed, back-to-back loading docks with a concrete platform in between connecting the buildings.
Butler Manufacturing supplied its wide-span metal building system, Thermawall IMPs with an embossed surface, and MR-24 standing seam roof system in Cool Solar White.
Reid Lerner, AIA, principal at Reid Lerner Architects, outlined three primary goals for the project and additional requirements.
First, the project provides additional warehouse space and loading docks. Importantly, the budget for the project was less than the budget for the main building, adjusted for building size.
“Compared to the adjacent Golden State Assembly building and neighboring buildings in the business park, which are typically made of precast concrete, the proposed project was completed by cutting the construction cost by one-third,” Lerner says. “This was mainly achieved by the almost-ready steel building kit provided by the manufacturer and the ease of erection and connections. The selection of metal as the primary building material enabled the entire structure including foundation, frame, roof, and enclosure to be completed by a single entity: the metal building installer subcontracted to the general contractor.”
The second primary goal was to design a flexible interior space and aesthetically pleasing exterior that complied with requirements from Morgan Hill.
“With regards to the proposed project prime location in Morgan Hill business park, the secondary goal was to provide a flexible, future-proof space that could be easily converted to an office center as the need for such space may arise,” Lerner says. “This would turn the project into a great investment considering the potential for future use as rental space or sale to similar businesses.”
The city of Morgan Hill had several design requirements that appeared to be difficult to achieve with tilt-up concrete construction like other buildings in the business park, Lerner says. “The main design review requirement asked for the proposed design to be similar to the existing precast concrete building, its overall proportion, scale, height, etc., yet exceed the aesthetics and performance of the existing building. The aesthetics design criteria was further highlighted by the fact that the project was located on a corner lot at a busy intersection. This design requirement was achieved by the ease of connecting several members of the exterior projections such as pilasters and various metal panels including horizontal corrugated panels, flat insulated panels, and perforated screen panels.”
Metl-Span supplied its 22-gauge steel flat panels in Regal Blue, 22-gauge steel BR5-36 corrugated panels in Brown, and 18-gauge perforated steel BR5-36 panels with 40 percent open area in XL Silver Gray.
“The building addresses the client’s need for additional warehouse space, yet, with a sleek style of a modern office building, which fits the business park fabric and is ready for future change of use with minimal alterations to the structure,” Lerner says.
With respect to the third primary project goal, designing and building a project with sustainable materials that uses minimal energy and needs minimal maintenance, Reid Lerner selected steel for the structure, roof and walls of the building. Notably, some walls are constructed with insulated metal panels (IMPs).
Lerner says, “The building frame and exterior panels are produced from recycled content that can be recycled at the end of their life cycle. On the exterior side of the frame, IMPs help reduce thermal bridging and potential condensation by keeping the metal frame temperature above the dew point, and have foam core insulation that achieves the desired R-values.
“The MR-24 roof system provides not only the desired roof insulation, but also a solid and relatively flat surface with a 2 percent slope for installation of solar panels. It’s considered a cool roof that helps reduce the heat island effect and cooling loads.”
In terms of daylighting and ventilation, the building skin is protected by perforated panels on the south and west façades. “Open by 40 percent of their surface area, the panels let cool breeze hit surface skin of the insulated panels while, at the same time, protect the insulated panels by providing shade,” Lerner says. “Daylighting is provided via storefront windows and 36 skylights.”
Owner: Golden State Assembly LLC, Fremont, Calif.
Architect: Reid Lerner Architects, Gilroy, Calif., reidlerner.com
General contractor: Kent Construction, Gilroy, Calif., www.kentconstruction.com
Erector/installer: Steel Solutions Inc., Hollister, Calif., steelsi.com
Metal building system: Butler Manufacturing, Kansas City, Mo., butlermfg.com
Metal wall panels: Metl-Span, Lewisville, Texas, www.metlspan.com
