Iowa Culinary Institute, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny
Retrofit Team
Architect: Shive-Hattery, West Des Moines, Iowa
Metal Panel Installer: SGH Inc., Urbandale, Iowa
Materials
Inspiration for the renovation and expansion came to Shive-Hattery from a building to the west of the institute classroom that has a terra-cotta tile exterior. The design team wanted to match that look with something that installed easily, was cost effective and has low maintenance. The solution was 0.080-inch aluminum Shadow Series and Aluvium panels.
The Aluvium finish is a 70 percent PVDF resin package that uses a special technique to impart a sand-like texture during the finishing process. Beyond the unique tactile expression, the texture gives the panels a distinctive visual element from a close proximity or far away.
The project required 5,038 square feet of Shadow Series panels in Pewter and Regatta Mica (blue), as well as 2,753 square feet of Terra Cotta Armagnac, Terra Cotta Mountain and Terra Cotta True Penny. “The color selection of the metal was chosen to coordinate with an adjacent building that used orange terra cotta along with DMACC’s blue, which is used in the school logo,” says Paul Rathjen, an architectural designer with Shive-Hattery.
“The architect wanted the look to be completely random, similar to terra cotta,” says Jeff Alkema, director of construction operations with SGH. “To do that, you have to create a pattern to essentially make a very organized pattern look random.”
The Shadow Series panels also add dimension because they can be extended at varying depths to create texture or a dynamic variation in patterns while keeping the substrate and weather barrier in the same plane. The exterior installation carries into the interior, through the curtainwall, requiring SGH to technically prepare for two separate installs on the same building.
Alkema notes the job remained challenge-free because it was a Guaranteed Dimension project from Dri-Design. In fact, the panels were ready and waiting at the job site well before SGH could install them. The Guaranteed Dimension program allows for the general contractor, architect, installer and Dri-Design team to collaborate to establish dimensions that all other trades will build to, which ensures the Dri-Design panels fit perfectly on a building. Guaranteed Dimension eliminates the need for field dimensions.
Wall Panel Manufacturer: Dri-Design
The Retrofit
DMACC was looking to update and expand its classroom building to continue to attract students and ensure the space matches real-world culinary expectations. The expansion brought a new entryway, lobby and pre-banquet area, as well as upgraded existing spaces.
Photo: Dri-Design