MetalTech-USA Panels Give Children's Hospital Colorado's New South Campus Sparkle

Peachtree City, GA, August 30, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Children’s Hospital Colorado, recognized as one of the leading pediatric facilities in the nation, has expanded onward and southward to the burgeoning southern communities of Denver. The close of 2013 welcomed the opening of Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. This satellite campus includes urgent care and ambulatory care and outpatient and inpatient beds. At four stories and 182,000 square feet, Children’s South was designed with future capacity to expand as it’s already expected to host nearly 80,000 patients during its first year.

FKP Architects was charged with the task of creating an expansion reminiscent of the hub in Aurora while also imbuing a vibrancy befitting Children’s Hospital Colorado. In the design phase, project designers Paul Asteris and Michael Shirley of FKP met with senior leaders at Children’s to delineate “guiding principles.” One such principle was to extend the Children’s “brand” as defined by their values and the components of their existing facilities in which they identify. Several materials were identified as part of their brand for the façade design. The stainless steel panel system was one of the materials and how FKP envisioned it as part of the Children’s brand. “Although we tried to accomplish a building that was new and fun for the kids, we also needed a link to all the Children’s facilities,” explained Asteris. The main campus in Aurora has stainless steel panels; however, for this offshoot, FKP desired material exuding a little more vibrancy. Zinc and aluminum panels with an iridescent coating were considered, but after receiving stainless steel samples from MetalTech-USA with more “sparkle” than previously reviewed, FKP settled on stainless steel to adhere to the guiding principles as well as control costs. MetalTech-USA was chosen to fabricate the wall system, cladding the façade with 13,000 square feet of 22 gauge, #4 polish stainless steel Flatlock panels.

Stainless steel is a sustainable exterior cladding material due to its superior corrosion resistance, recyclability, and durability, in particular, the #4 polish is the easiest to maintain. Despite its environmental benefits, Asteris states, “the choice of using stainless steel panels had more to do with maintaining Children’s exterior character as well as design aesthetic,” than aligning with green building standards. Children’s Hospital Colorado decided not to pursue LEED accreditation for this facility; however, FKP was asked to design with LEED and LEAN sensitivity.

The flat, overlapping seams of the MetalTech-USA Flatlock Tile System provide a subtle grid-like look to any simple or complex wall cladding solution. MetalTech Flatlock panels are cost-effective and render installation quick and easy. Gen3, a Colorado-based commercial construction company specializing in the installation of Architectural Metal Wall systems, was chosen to install the stainless steel Flatlock panels. MetalTech-USA Project Manager Michael Love cites the “project ran very smoothly. We worked well with the guys at Gen3 to deliver the project on schedule.”

Specialty Metal Fabrication and Engineering: MetalTech-USA
Installer: Gen3 Construction
Architect: FKP Architects and Davis Partnership

MetalTech-USA is a premier distributor and specialty fabricator of eco-friendly architectural metals, specializing in roofing, rainwater, soffit and cladding systems. For more information, visit www.metaltech-usa.com, or call 770.486.8825.