Metal Makeover: Thanks to perforated aluminum rainscreens, a once-dingy auto dealer gets a dramatic facelift
by Jonathan McGaha | December 31, 2009 12:00 am
Every metal building begins with an idea, but it’s nearly impossible to go straight from ideation to construction. The process in the middle, the design phase, is where architects have the opportunity to flex their muscles. This is where architects and designers bring concepts closer to reality through the use of sketches, plans and renderings.
On the north side of Chicago, a non-descript, tired, uninteresting building is in the process of receiving a major facelift, courtesy of some creative design utilizing modern metal products. Fletcher Jones Imports, Chicago, will be transformed from a dingy, masonry building into a gleaming, bright, airy auto showroom sporting perforated aluminum rainscreens.
Chicago-area architecture firm Gensler provided Metal Architecture with a “before” photo, as well as some renderings and elevations to give us a glimpse of how the finished project will look upon completion in June 2010.
“We chose the aluminum rainscreen panel system from Dri-Design for the Volkswagon façade because of the endless color choices, quick installation, affordability and aesthetic quality we were trying to achieve,” said Greg Huette of Gensler, who served as architectural designer for this project. “On the Audi side, the façade is a perforated corrugated metal panel attached to a rainscreen of clear anodized aluminum panels, also made by Dri-Design, Holland, Mich. This product was specifically designed by Audi and is proprietary, giving the dealership an eye-catching, unique look.”
Fletcher Jones Imports
Owner: Fletcher Jones Imports, Chicago
Design Architect: Gensler, Chicago, www.gensler.com
Contractor: Skender Construction, Chicago, www.skender.com
Metal Panel Supplier: Dri-Design, Holland, Mich., www.dri-design.com
Metal Panel Contractor: G&L Associates, Des Plaines, Ill., www.gandlasociates.com
Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/projects/metal-makeover-thanks-to-perforated-aluminum-rainscreens-a-once-dingy-auto-dealer-gets-a-dramatic-facelift/