A-House is named for its A-shaped soaring peak. It combines both modern and traditional styles for an eclectic mix. The metal roof tiles create a timeless aesthetic with a natural patina and time-tested performance that can last generations.
See the Case Study from MCA Member RHEINZINK >
For the design of the Sky Train Rental Car Center (RCC) Station connecting the terminals and transportation hubs at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, the SmithGroup was seeking a modern material to compliment the airport aesthetic.
The clear choice was metal with its strong identity to the aviation and transportation industry.
Serving more than 120,000 passengers per day, the architects built off the theme of the existing 44th Street PHX Sky Train Station in designing the new station’s concave and convex overarching metal roofs, highlighted by uplighting.
The LEED Gold station is covered with a coil coated .040 in. BEMO aluminum standing seam roof with DURA COAT PVDF and Kovach aluminum composite metal panels cladding the walls, perimeter gutter, fascia and soffit.
The curving roof design shelters passengers from the sun while the dynamic forms simulate the constant movement of the trains and complement the fluid lines of aviation design. The curved rooflines also mimic aircraft flight patterns and serve as identifiable wayfinding points for travelers.
In addition to the aesthetic, aluminum was chosen for its affordability, enabling the exterior envelope design and detailing to stay within budget thereby avoiding the need to reduce the programmatic scope.
The low-maintenance material comes with a 30-year warranty and the natural metal coating is fade resistant. This was key as the station design needs to last as long as the train system. The modularity of the roof and fascia panel design will also enable easy replacement in the event of a damaged panel.
The aluminum material is less likely to experience galvanic reactions between dissimilar metals. Further, the self-cleaning attribute of the coated metal panel ensures that the roof always looks clean.
The Sky Train expansion replaces a network of buses with electric trains, thereby eliminating the rental car buses, hotel shuttles and cars crowding the airport. The train system reduces energy use in the airport by 59%.
Taken together, the project was recognized with an Envision Gold Award for its achievement in high-performance infrastructure.
The Sky Train Stage 2 Extension was fast tracked in order to open in time for the 2022 holiday travel season and Super Bowl LVII. The lightweight roofing and cladding systems supported a quick installation and minimized the size of the supporting structure.
Inside the station, terrazzo floors and commissioned artwork lends color and a unique sense of place. Indoor and outdoor seating, air circulation, and good lighting provide safety and comfort 24 hours a day.
Solar roofing needs materials that are non-combustible for increased fire resistance. Using a non-combustible cover board on a single-ply membrane roof not only guards against fire, it also can increase median life expectancy by 4 years.*
Learn more about meta roofing for solar >
Photo courtesy of MCA Members S-5! and Drexel Metals
*Actual results may vary.
Designing a beautiful building is all about attention to detail. From structural products to fasteners, metal roofing and wall products would not be complete without a massive selection of ancillaries and accessories. MCA has the Case Studies, Tech resources, and Supplier information you need to get the best results >
Photos Courtesy of MCA Member: S-5!
The heavy weight of slate roofs means increased shipping and structural framing costs. Metal roofs are lightweight, requiring less structural support and providing easier installation. This is just one more benefit of choosing metal!
Learn more about metal roofing >
Photo Courtesy of MCA Member: Isaiah Industries, Inc.
As part of the new UnCommons mixed-use development just beyond the Strip in southwest Las Vegas, Nucor Buildings delivered three pre-engineered metal American Buildings to house the Sundry Food Hall, Urth Caffe & Bar and a third food establishment.
The close to 23,000 sq. ft. of Gensler-designed buildings earned a 2023 Design Award from the Metal Construction Association and a Metal Architecture first place design award in the Commercial Roof category.
The Urth Caffe restaurant is WELL and Green Globes certified, designed in a farm-to-table spirit with organic, sustainable and local ingredients. The building features large windows connecting the indoor seating with the outdoor patio area.
Meanwhile, the bigger Sundry Market Hall features a curated collection of regional and international cuisine.
The team selected metal for its ability to design open spaces with strong foundations in a cost effective manner. In addition, the metal enabled the architects to design unique roof angles and large open ceilings providing views of the Las Vegas skies and enjoy the fresh air.
Pre-fabricated metal buildings are “a much more cost-effective way to put a structure up,” stated Darrel Fullbright, a principal and design director with Gensler’s San Diego in an Urban Land article. The structure is cladded with more architecturally significant detail, “so they feel much more rich. We use things like rusted metal and expose the structure.”
The metal structure supports the addition of large overhead doors for easy access to indoor and outdoor spaces.
Each of the three buildings contain partition walls with tube steel supports for storefront glass. This enabled the architects to create outside covered dining.
For enhanced aesthetics, the metal building’s columns and rafters appear as solid pieces without bolt splices.
Structurally, the design increases the sideways drift deflections due to its closeness to surrounding buildings. Collateral loads were adjusted to accommodate full wood tongue and groove wood panels and wall spandrel beams are connected to the stud wall and panels.
To achieve the desired insulating R-Values, 12-in. purlins were placed 2 feet off center to accommodate the wood panels underneath.
The roof panels are comprised of 24-gauge Corten from McElroy.
For the Market Hall building, Gensler designed a 10-ft. cantilevered mezzanine to create a 10 ft. by 60 ft. outside balcony. There is also a mechanical mezzanine to house all the mechanical units.
The metal building design includes a watertight expansion joint between the building and next door concrete tilt-up parking structure.
The larger UnCommons development comprises 500,000 square feet of office space, 91,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, an entertainment venue, the Assembly conference center and a parking structure on a walkable 40-acre site. The development combines the modern workplace with amenities, open space and connectivity.
Photos courtesy of Ryerson Construction
Metal roofing has outperformed many other options in challenging northern and alpine climates. This paper gives the info to properly prepare your roof for snow retention and snow load to provide safety, assurance, and peace of mind.
Beautiful, durable metal roofs will reduce time and worry for this 31-unit apartment complex for decades.
See the case study from MCA Member Isaiah Industries, Inc.>
Want an impressive range of aesthetic possibilities? Explore the options available with Metal Composite Material (MCM).
Photos Courtesy of MCA and MCM Alliance Members: @3ACompositesusa, @thepanelguys , Arconic Architectural Products
Great read published in FacilitiesNet/NFMT by Bob Zabcik, MCA’s Technical Director – The Rise of Metal Roofs: What You Need to Know. Metal is becoming a popular building material due to many of its inherent attributes >
Photo: Drexel Metals Inc.
