10 award-winning metal building projects

The Metal Construction Association last week announced the winners of its 2013 Chairman’s Award, which recognizes metal building projects that employ innovation and creativity while showcasing how metal products help achieve exceptional building designs. 

Awards were given in the following categories: Commercial/Industrial, Education – Primary and Secondary Schools, Education – Colleges and Universities, Municipal, Institutional, Roofing, Residential, and Overall Excellence. MCA also honored two projects with an Honorable Mention Award.

The winning projects were selected by a panel of professional architects that included: Elaine Fitzgerald, AIA, CCS, Architectural Specifier with ArchiTech Consulting; Andrew M. Koglin, AIA, President of OKW Architects; and Gabriel Wilcox, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Design Director at Legat Architects.

The 2013 winners are:

1. Overall Excellence
Central Arizona College Maricopa Campus
Maricopa, Arizona

The new satellite campus for the college in Maricopa, Arizona includes three academic buildings and a central plant and is in the initial phase of a 20-year campus design that reflects the area’s historic roots and Native American legacy. The highly sustainable structures were designed as a series of spare, no maintenance ‘academic sheds’ with Corten steel as the primary exterior wall material. Painted metal standing seam roof panels provide an attractive, long lasting, low maintenance roof. The rusted metal wall panels provide a durable, economical solution that enhances the architect’s concept of reflecting the area’s Native American heritage.

The MCA judging panel thought this project stood out from all other entries with its intentionality of building design and the fact that it nested so well into its surroundings through the selected material pallet. The natural finish of the exposed metal reflected the landscape around it and the project ties nicely into green design. They were impressed with how the building has a different architectural expression depending on the sun’s angle.

MCA member companies involved in the project include Metal Sales Manufacturing Corp., Precoat Metals, Steel Dynamics Inc., U.S. Steel and Valspar. The architect for the project is SmithGroupJJR and the contractor is CORE Construction. The metal installer is Kovach Building Enclosures.

2. Commercial/Industrial
Cirrus Logic Building
Austin, Texas

Cirrus Logic, a supplier of analog and digital components for the audio and energy markets, constructed a new corporate headquarters in downtown Austin that features attractive zinc panels and glass curtain wall. The six-story office building included perforated zinc panels on the parking garage. Both interlocking panels and corrugated panels were used on the structures.

According to the MCA judges, this project was chosen for its use of two types of systems – interlocking panel and corrugated panel systems. They noted that there is almost a sculptural quality of the building that is enhanced by the use of metal and carried out very tastefully.

MCA member Umicore Building Products USA, Inc. provided the zinc panels for the project. The architects are Muñoz + Albin Architecture and Planning, Inc., Ambrose, McEnany and

House Architects and Lake/Flato. The contractor is Harvey Cleary and the metal installer is Kovach, Inc.

3. Education—Primary and Secondary Schools
Sherwood Middle School
Shrewsbury, MA

Sherwood Middle School features a highly efficient exterior wall system and a low tech solar wall application. The $34 million, 130,000 square foot school provides a modern learning environment for approximately 1,000 fifth and sixth graders in the Shrewsbury Public School System. The energy efficient metal panel systems and its high recycled content helped this 130,000 square foot project obtain credits in the Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools.

The MCA judges took note of the dynamic façade with the variation in panel systems, especially the energy savings realized from the system that supplements interior heating. The judges appreciated that the architect put a lot of time into the design.

MCA members 3A Composites USA, ATAS International and CENTRIA provided metal materials for the project. Lamoureux Pagano & Associates is the architect and Gilbane Building Company is the contractor. The metal installer is Lymo Construction Co., Inc.

4. Education—Colleges and Universities
MassArt Student Residence Hall
Boston, MA

Based on input from an 80-person design charette that included administrators, students, faculty, and others, this new residence hall was designed as a painting in the skyline. Alucobond panels in seven custom colors were positioned to simulate Gustav Klimt’s 1909 “Tree of Life” painting. The goal of the design was to express the individuality of the college and metal was ideal for simulating a colorful tree.

For this project, the MCA judging panel admired the exceptional use of color and pattern around the window openings.

3A Composites USA is the MCA member manufacturer. The architect is ADD, Inc. and the contractor is Suffolk Construction. Lymo Construction is the metal installer.

5. Municipal
FDNY Fireboat Firehouse
New York, NY

The new 8,500 square foot waterfront facility for Marine Company 1 in Manhattan is the last remaining fireboat company in the city. The facility provides docking space for FDNY’s newest vessel that can pump 50 times more water than a typical fire truck. The design uses standing seam roof panels and flat lock tile, which are designed to weather to a lush patina.

The MCA judging panel felt this project stood out for its use of metal for the entire façade – creating a durable, maintenance free building that is resistant to damage. They also thought it created a nice vision for passersby in the city.

The MCA member manufacturer is RHEINZINK America, Inc. The architect for this project is CDR Studio Architects, PC and the fabricator/metal installer is Beninati Roofing & Sheet Metal. CT Roofing Reps, Inc. is the distributor.

6. Institutional
The Tower Hospital at Rush University Medical Center
Chicago

The goals for the Tower Hospital at Rush University Medical Center were to support enhanced patient care and to establish a strong visual presence in Chicago’s skyline. The result is a unique butterfly design using an unconventional metal panel system with numerous bull nose shapes, curves and very long lengths. The 840,000 square foot building is LEED Gold Certified and uses Alucobond Plus panels for exterior wall cladding and as a color accent on column covers and interior mullions.

The MCA judging panel thought this project was very well executed and it stood out with the exceptional detailing of the metal panels.

3A Composites USA is the MCA member manufacturer and Sobotec, Inc. is the MCA member fabricator. The architect is Perkins +Will and the contractor is Powers/Jacobs Joint Venture. ASI Ltd. is the installer.

7. Metal Roofing
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
Vancouver, B.C.

The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre’s unique design simulates a native orchid and it was designed to achieve a sustainable design and attracts more visitors to the garden. Undulating green roof panels on the building float above rammed earth and concrete walls. Alucobond panels from 3A Composites USA are used for the unique roof in a five petal design that dramatically flows to the ground in a half-barrel shape.

The MCA judges noted that this is a beautifully executed building, with a roof crafted with exquisite detailing. The natural finish metal chosen for the building is easy to maintain.

3A Composites USA is the MCA member manufacturer on the project. Perkins+Will Canada is the architect and Ledcor Group of Companies is the contractor. The metal installer for this project is Keith Panel Systems Co., Ltd.

8. Residential
Private Residence
Takoma Park, MD

This private residence in Takoma Park, Maryland was renovated with metal panels from ATAS International that were chosen for their delicate corrugated scale that created the desired clever appearance. The owners wanted the house to respect its hilly, wooded surroundings while being creative and playful.

The judging panel thought this unique project contrasted well with the surrounding forest. They admired the simple use of materials throughout the whole façade and the attention to the texture changes based on panel orientation.

ATAS International is the MCA member metal manufacturer and McInturff Architects is the architect. Added Dimensions Inc. is both the contractor and metal installer.

9. Honorable Mention for Exceptional Choice of Material
Stepping Stones Preschool
Wyncote, PA

Colorful metal was used in the exterior wall cladding and structural elements of a preschool building renovation for this Blue Ribbon private school to appeal to students and show them how a building fits together. ATAS International metal shingles were chosen for their texture and ability to mix different colors. The metal profile provided shadows, texture and color and the shingles added a graphic punch to the building – making this a playful creation and exciting learning tool for the students.

ATAS International is the MCA member manufacturer. John J. DiBenedetto Associates is the architect and contractor. The metal installer is Griffith Exteriors Inc.

10. Honorable Mention for Innovative Detailing
Williams Selyem Winery
Sonoma County, CA

The design of the Williams Selyum Winery in Sonoma County uses iconic elements of winemaking topped by a cantilevering wood and metal barrel-vaulted structure to recognize the winery’s natural and minimalist philosophy and Sonoma’s modernization. Zinc panels create the barrel vault roof and additional material is used for the fascia, soffit and gutter trim.

RHEINZINK America, Inc. is the MCA member manufacturer who provided the metal panels. D.arc Group + RBA is the design architect and Patrick Mervin + Associates Architects is the architect of record. The contractor is Jim Murphy & Associates and the fabricator is MetalTech-USA. Architectural Metal, Inc. is the metal installer.

About the Metal Construction Association
The Metal Construction Association brings together a diverse industry for the purpose of expanding the use of metal in construction through marketing, research and technology and education. Companies involved in MCA gain tremendous benefit from association activities that focus on research, codes and standards, market development, and technical programs. MCA’s market development efforts increase the use of metal materials in construction through the education of the building and design communities about the benefits of metal. MCA’s next meeting is the 2014 Annual Meeting, set for January 26-28 at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, FL. To learn more about MCA, visit our website at www.metalconstruction.org or contact us at mca@metalconstruction.org.