Chaffin Junior High School, Fort Smith, Ark.
Retrofit Team
Retrofit Team
ARCHITECT: Architecture Plus Inc., Fort Smith
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: G.A.G. Builders Inc., Cabot, Ark.
METAL WALL PANEL INSTALLER: Architectural Glass and Metals, Fort Smith
Materials
Modernization of the school included blending a creative learning environment with the security and accessibility requirements of today’s K-12 facilities. Balancing visibility and vision, the exterior was updated with a secured entry tower and a bright and colorful metal façade. The wall panels and custom, aluminum accents were finished in 70 percent PVDF Fluropon. Matching the school’s colors—Hunter Green and Vegas Gold—the coatings playfully distinguish the fresh façade, complementing and transforming the 45-year-old brick exterior.
METAL WALL PANEL MANUFACTURER: Citadel Architectural Products Inc.
PVDF FLUROPON MANUFACTURER: The Valspar Corp.
The Retrofit
Opened in 1969, Chaffin Junior High School has continued to serve its growing community with little change to the original, brick, box-shaped building. As enrollment doubled and teaching technology evolved, more space was required to serve the 872 students plus faculty, staff and community. Fulfilling the Fort Smith Public Schools’ mission to provide “students a promising transition into the 21st century,” a renovation and expansion was completed. Part of the project included a music and fine arts addition, completed in May 2013.
The Chicago-based Metal Construction Association bestowed its 2014 Chairman’s Award to Valspar for the colorful renovation and addition.
PHOTO: The Vaslpar Corp. and Son Shreve, Shreve Imaging