By all accounts, downtown Asheville, North Carolina is in the midst of a building renaissance, blending new civic construction with its many historic landmarks. Top of the list is Asheville’sCityCentrecomplex, whichisscheduledtoopeninthespringof 2016. The 2.4-acresiteincorporatesafour-story, 84,000 square-footofficebuildingthatislinkedbyacourtyardandaparkingdecktoasix-storyHiltonGardenInn. Called the “gatewaycornertothecity,” CityCentreiscentrallylocatedattheintersectionofCollegeandSouthCharlotteStreets. 

It’snosecretthatachievingqualitydesignandconstructionpracticescanbeachallengeandCityCentreoffice building was no exception. Pullman Properties had high aesthetic expectations, a limited budget and a relatively short construction timeline. Adding to these conditions was North Carolina’snew 2012 energycodethatrequirescontinuousinsulationforanybuildingenvelope. Nevertheless, the City Centre development team met the challenge gracefully with a strong design vision and innovative use of materials.

Designed by Aaron Brumo of Clark Nexsen Architects, the parallelogram-shaped office building deftly blends high functionality with sophisticated design.

“We wanted to create a building that felt open from the outside,” explained Brumo.  “Butourenergymodeldictatedthatwecouldonlyhaveabout 50 percentglassinthebuilding’sfacadeandstillmeettheenergy code.”

How to get ample light into the building’sinteriorandstillcomplywithenergycodesandbudgetconstraintswasthedesign challenge. A facade of tall, narrow windows that would allow significant amounts of light into the building’sinteriorwasthedesignsolution. However, the design included a staggered pattern of windows that are recessed by three inches, resulting in a building that evokes a sense of texture, depth and dynamism. 

The initial plan to clad City Centre with an insulated metal panel system proved to be too costly, given the structure’smoderatescaleanditsstaggeredwindowpattern. Thearchitectureteamandthegeneralcontractor, VannoyConstruction, determined a better strategy for the building’sskinwastoinstallanaluminumcompositematerial (ACM) system by APOLIC®.

The APOLIC®ACMpanelscouldbefabricatedinmultiplesizestocreatethefaçade’s surface pattern and accommodate its irregular glazing demands. According to Brumo, “WiththeACMpaneling, wecandoanything. Wecanchangeplanes, wecansetthewindowsbackinthebuildingsoeverything’snotoutinthesameplaneandflat. Wecanachievedepth. AndtheACMpanelcanjustturnandwrap right into the window jamb, which makes it really clean and simple and easy to waterproof. You can pretty much do whatever you want with an ACM panel.” Significantly, the APOLIC®panelsystemwouldbeappliedwithValspar’sValflon FEVE architectural coating, giving the client a wide range of options for colors and finishes.

The ALPOLIC®ACMpanelswereinstalledusingtheinnovativeR-TracHVHZpressure-equalizedrainscreensystemdevelopedbyAltechPanelSystemsincollaboration with Mitsubishi Plastics Composites America, and Rmax. The R-Trac H.V.H.Z (High Velocity Hurricane Zone) system is designed to work with continuous insulation in compliance with the latest energy-efficiency codes.

To achieve the desired neutral but sophisticated look, the client and architect selected Valspar’sValfloncoilcoatingsinAGTAluminumGray, BGY Gray and MST Mist White. The three muted colors impart a sleek, modernist feel to the buildings façadegivingitanelegantdimensionality, without sacrificing performance. The Valflon FEVE fluoropolymer-based resin is durable with excellent adhesion and flexibility. It is also resistant to air-borne chemicals and protects against weathering, chalking and fading. Valflon is an environment-friendly coating and alongside its durability and high color-retention capabilities, make it a product that helps align the City Centre project with North Carolina’s environmental policies.

Project Overview

Project:                        Asheville City Centre

General contractor:      Vannoy Construction; Charlotte, NC
http://www.jrvannoy.com/

Architects:                    Clark Nexsen, Inc.; Asheville, NC

                                    http://www.clarknexsen.com/

Metal panel

manufacturer:               ALPOLIC

http://www.alpolic-americas.com

Panels installer:           Altech Panel Systems, Inc.; Cartersville, GA

                                    http://altechpanel.com/

Coatings provider:       The Valspar Corporation; Minneapolis, MN                                              http://www.valsparcoilextrusion.com/