SmithGroup’s design for Texas A&M University System’s Southside Rec Center in College Station, Texas, needed to meet a rash of project requirements and goals.
One driver of the project was to alleviate overcrowding at an existing student rec center. SmithGroup’s design needed to align with the university’s master plan for its campus, integrate with the campus, complement campus architecture, provide greatest amount of student fitness space possible, and make budget.
In total, six types of metal panels were used on the 5,853 m2 (63,000 sf)
recreation center. Petersen Aluminum Corp. supplied, and Auzmet Architectural Inc. installed, five of the six panels. Alucoil North America also supplied its MCM, installed by Auzmet.
Auzmet installed Petersen’s Precision Series Box Rib 1, Box Rib 2, Box Rib 3,
Box Rib 4 aluminum wall panels, and Flush aluminum soffit panels. Box Ribs 3/4 panels are solid-skinned, and Box Ribs 1/2 panels are perforated. All the panels are finished in Dark Bronze.
The textures, patterns and dark brown color of the metal panels supported integrating the design with the campus. Importantly, numerous oak trees surrounding Southside Rec Center were strategically incorporated into the design. 
Box Ribs 1/2 panels both have 6.4 mm (0.25 in.) diameter holes. Box Rib 1 panels have perforations 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) centered staggered and 23 percent open area, and Box Rib 2 panels have perforations 9.5 mm (0.375 in.) centered staggered and 40 percent open area.
Solid-skin metal panels clad high bay volumes of the building, which house courts and spaces for strength and conditioning. Perforated metal panels shade the entry plaza. Auzmet also installed Alucoil’s MCM panels in Dark Bronze.
With respect to integrating Southside Rec Center with campus, it is designed to connect with Bizzell Street, a main campus arterial street it’s located on.
“In line with the campus master plan, the building showcases the energetic recreation program,” Kalman Nagy, AIA, NCARB, senior principal architect at SmithGroup says. “A grand entry plaza anchors the pedestrian path connecting the residential dorms to the new recreation center entry. The main canopy extends south along Bizzell Street and works with the existing live oaks to provide shade for fitness spaces and a sidewalk that pulls the campus into the activity of the courts, lobby, strength and conditioning high bay, and a dramatic outdoor fitness terrace.
“The preservation of the existing live oaks along Bizzell was embraced and integral to the design concept. A grand entry plaza centered between an active scrim of live oaks welcomes students into the new recreation center. The perforated metal scrim at the entry continues the dynamic expression of the live oaks.
“The program is strategically aligned along Bizzell to showcase windows of wellness through the lively scrim of nature and architecture. The height of the first floor respects the existing gentle slope of the site and critical slopes under the live oaks to maintain their vitality.” 
Among the numerous project requirements and goals, SmithGroup designed Southside Rec Center to provide shading, daylighting, and outdoor views, while conserving as much energy as possible.
“A large overhang on the south and west facades provides shaded exterior space and daylight-protected glazing, critical in the hot Texas climate,” Nagy says. “High-performance glazing with integrated ceramic frit patterns and perpendicular shading fins further reduce heat gain while maintaining views. Large windows allow natural light to fill the high-bay courts and fitness spaces and afford views to the campus and adjacent university golf course.”
