This document is a guideline for recognizing the visual acceptance parameters of single skin metal panels.
Tag Archives: metal walls
METALCON 2014: Denver, Here We Come
By: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association
MCA staff is gearing up for METALCON 2014 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, from October 1-3, 2014. Be sure to stop by our booth (#1542) and say hello. We’ll have MCA technical directors Scott Kriner and Andy WIlliams in the booth to answer any technical questions you may have. And the 2014 MCA Chairman’s Award Winners will be announced at the end of the day on October 1st, and will be featured in our booth for the remainder of the show. Click here to view past winners.
We hope to see you there! And be sure to visit these MCA Members at METALCON 2014, or visit MCA’s Product Locator:
Architects, Metal Construction Companies Converge on Chicago
By: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association
This week the Metal Construction Association (MCA) is hosting its 2014 Summer Meeting at the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, IL. Representatives from metal roof and wall manufacturers, as well as suppliers, consultants, fabricators and more, will be participating in meetings to expand the use of metal roofs and wall panels. Meetings kick off Monday with the lunchtime General Session featuring a panel discussion of metal construction industry leaders. Committee and council meetings will be conducted Monday through Wednesday.
Many of our MCA members will be extending their stay in Chicago to attend the 2014 AIA National Convention from Thursday, June 26 through Saturday, June 28 at McCormick Place. Be sure to stop by and see MCA members exhibiting this year, including:
| Exhibitor Name | Booth Number |
| 3A Composites | 1906 |
| Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc. | 4042 |
| Alcoa Architectural Products | 1407 |
| Alucobond | 1215 |
| Alucoil North America | 2022 |
| ATAS International, Inc. | 3642 |
| Bayer MaterialScience | 1654 |
| Centria | 1425 |
| Dow Building Solutions | 4712 |
| Englert, Inc. | 3637 |
| Fabral | 606 |
| Firestone Building Products | 2113 |
| MBCI | 3845 |
| Metal Architecture Magazine | 4645 |
| Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation | 1245 |
| Metl-Span | 4204 |
| Mitsubishi Plastics Composites America, Inc. | 3624 |
| NorthClad | 1815 |
| Petersen Aluminum Corp. | 4245 |
| PPG Industries, Inc. | 4617 |
| Reynobond/Reynolux | 1407 |
| RHEINZINK America, Inc. | 3209 |
| Solvay | 3608 |
| Valspar | 3618 |
We hope you enjoy your stay in Chicago!
High School Football Stadium, Texas Style
By Jane Martinsons, Metal Construction Association
Sure, everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes a high school football stadium so grand and high-budget that it garnered national attention last year. The $60 million Allen High School football stadium, located in the fast-growing Dallas suburb of Allen, TX, features many architectural bells and whistles, including concrete seats for 18,000, a towering upper deck, a spacious weight room, and practice areas for the school’s wrestling and golf teams. With its 100,000 square feet of metal composite material (MCM) panels, the structure looks more like a college stadium.
According to Zeke Miller, President , The Miller-Clapperton Partnership, Inc. @thepanelguys, Austell, GA, metal is a natural fit for stadiums of all types. “Obviously this project is like a dream assignment, where certain features lend pizzazz, and MCM panels fit the bill.” He adds that MCM panels are the modern day sheet metal because they do not oil can, are low maintenance and durable, and provide design flexibility. The paneling itself can be clad with decorative metal, which is perfect for all stadiums.
The only drawback to stadium projects is that there is no messing around with deadlines, Miller says, because the football season always begins on schedule. Miller-Clapperton, whose projects include the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida, is currently hoping that his MCM panels will be incorporated into the design of the new Atlanta Falcons Stadium that is scheduled to open for the 2017 NFL season.
Since the stadium opened in August 2012, Allen High School’s Eagles football team hasn’t lost a single home game, but Miller resists attributing the streak to anything associated with the stadium’s metal composite paneling. Still, with all the publicity surrounding the “most expensive high school stadium in America,” Miller says that he kind of wishes that the stadium was better known for its panels rather than the other way around.
Visit MCA–and 44 MCA Member Companies–at METALCON
By: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association
METALCON kicks off on Tuesday, October 1st. Be sure to stop by Metal Construction Association‘s (MCA) booth (#1553) to see a roofing assembly that illustrates a variety of sustainable technologies, and get the latest technical developments and case studies available. On display will also be MCA’s new website: www.metalconstruction.org.
And be sure to visit one of the 44 MCA member companies that are exhibiting at METALCON for the latest product developments in the metal construction industry.
Company Name Booth #
ABC Supply 1730
Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc. 621
Alcoa Architectural Products 1232
Aluminum Association 512
Arkema, Inc. 1436
ATAS International, Inc 1615
Atlas Bolt & Screw 1439
The Bradbury Company 1121
Central States Manufacturing Inc. 901
CENTRIA 1030
Classic Metal Roofing Systems 1131
(Isaiah Industries)
DesignandBuildwithMetal.com 528
Drexel Metals 1807
Dura Coat Products, Inc. 635
Englert, Inc. 921
Everlast Metals 1835
Fabral 1637
Firestone Building Products 1015
FLEXOSPAN Inc. 1341
GSSI Sealants Inc. 1933
ITW Buildex 1731
MBCI 1221
McElroy Metal, Inc. 827
Metal Construction News 702
Metal Roofing Magazine 2246
Metal Sales Manufacturing Corp. 1332
METALFORMING, Inc. 1421
Metl-Span 1138
Petersen Aluminum Corp. 1033
PPG Industries Inc. 1321
Precoat Metals 1725
RHEINZINK America Inc. 943
Roof Hugger, Inc. 1143
SFS Intec, Inc. 1132
Sheffield Metals 1609
Solvay 904
Steel Dynamics 647
Steelscape 721
TAMKO Building Products Inc. 833
Triangle Fastener Corp. 747
U.S. Steel Corp. 1830
Umicore Building Products USA, Inc. 1054
Valspar Corporation 1001
Vicwest 821
We hope to see you at METALCON!
Take a Tour of the New Metal Construction Association Website
By: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association
The Metal Construction Association (MCA) is proud to announce its new website: www.metalconstruction.org. If you’ve been following The Metal Initiative (the former name of this blog, and its home website) you’ll notice that we still have the same goal: to be the go-to resource for information and education about metal roofs and wall panels.
Visit the new site, and you’ll find:
- Case Study Gallery – Be inspired by real-world case studies about how architects and building owners have used metal to solve design challenges and build high-performing buildings.New case studies are added every month.
- Photo Gallery – MCA’s expanded photo gallery features dozens of projects, including commercial, municipal, education, healthcare, and more. Photos from hundreds more projects will be added in the coming weeks.
- Technical Resources – MCA is the leading source of technical resources for the metal construction industry, including white papers, technical bulletins and technical manuals. The section will be updated regularly.
MCA is also working to re-launch its Ask the Experts forum in the coming weeks, and will be building out a new Members’ Only section for MCA members.
Be sure to visit MCA’s new website, and bookmark it to check back for more information and resources.
Immerse Yourself in Metal at the Georgia Aquarium
After you’ve seen the latest in metal products at METALCON on Oct. 1-3 in Atlanta (stopping by to visit MCA in booth 1553, of course), come see how metal enhances the physical environment of all members of the ecosystem, from people to sea life.
Opened in 2005, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the world’s largest aquarium. It holds more than 8 million gallons of water and is home to more than 100,000 sea animals.
Designed by Atlanta-based architecture firm Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, the firm says its design “combines a unique exterior profile for the Aquarium with an interior concept that strives to give visitors the sensation of visiting an underwater world.”
Metal was a key component in bringing this underwater world to life. The building’s exterior uses metal panels to recreate the appearance of a ship’s hull. The building uses 50,000 sq. ft. of 3A Composite’s Alucobond metal composite panels. The “ship” features approximately 3,600, 4-mm-thick panels in platinum, silver metallic and custom three-coat blue metallic colors.
The aquarium features six regular exhibits—Cold Water Quest, Ocean Voyager, Tropical Diver, Georgia Explorer, Dolphin Tales and River Scout—and a special exhibit, Sea Monsters Revealed: Aquatic Bodies opens September 27.
Attend METALCON first and then wade into the metal application of Georgia Aquarium.
For more information about METALCON visit www.metalcon.com.
The Mighty Georgia Dome–Only Steps Away from METALCON
Step outside the Georgia World Congress Center when you attend METALCON International in Atlanta next month, and you can’t miss noticing a prime example of metal’s strength and beauty in building design.
Located across the park plaza from the convention center, the Georgia Dome stands mighty as the largest cable-supported domed stadium in the world. The 290-ft.-high roof is composed of 130 Teflon-coated fiberglass panels covering 8.6 acres. The roof’s supporting cable totals 11.1 miles, and the Dome is as tall as a 27-story building, according to the Georgia Dome website.
Of note to MCA members, the Georgia Dome features CENTRIA’s Formawall Dimension Series and Profile Series Exposed Fastener Panels.
Opened in 1992, the Georgia Dome took center stage at the 1996 Olympic games as the setting for gymnastics and basketball events. Home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Georgia State Panthers football teams, the Georgia Dome also recently hosted the NCAA Men’s Final Four basketball tournament in April this year.
METALCON will be take place Oct. 1-3. For a look at the Georgia Dome in action, book your METALCON travel to Atlanta a few days early. The Falcons play the New England Patriots September 29th in this awe-inspiring stadium. The Dome also offers individual and group tours if you don’t have time for a game.
For more information about METALCON, visit www.metalcon.com.
We hope to see you in Atlanta!
Know What to Look for When Inspecting MCM Panels
By: Jane Martinsons, Metal Construction Association
Wondering about a possible defect in the Metal Composite Material (MCM) panels you’re installing, such as a deflection or bow, a surface imperfection, or a problem with the finish or color? While these instances may be rare, a new white paper by the Metal Construction Association (MCA), available at no charge, can help you determine whether a MCM panel or system is not meeting current code and industry standards.
It’s vital that installers, architects and designers know acceptance criteria for painted metal surfaces. However, “questions concerning visual appearance often arise during the architectural walk-through on a project,” says Andy Williams, MCA’s director of codes and standards. “This white paper highlights many real-life situations so that architects and designers can understand what to expect. More knowledge at the beginning of a project prevents problems from developing later in the process.”
MCA brings together a diverse industry for the purpose of expanding the use of metal in construction through marketing, research, and technology and education. Please join us at MCA’s 2014 Annual Meeting on January 26–28, 2014, at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, FL. For more information on the conference and the 3-page white paper, Visual Acceptance Parameters for Metal Composite Material (MCM) Panels and Panel Systems, visit www.metalconstruction.org.
3 Reasons Why Facebook Chose Perforated Metal Panels
By: Jane Martinsons, Metal Construction Association
There are three very good reasons why nearly a quarter of the 65,000 square feet of metal wall panels on Facebook’s new data center in Prineville, OR, are perforated panels. Foremost, the screen metal walls secure the center’s sizable generator yard and help ventilate its diesel-fueled backup generators.
The metal panels, including the perforated metal panels, also are customized by Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation to allow the entire structure to meet strict LEED® Gold certification standards. More than half of each perforated panel—52.94%, to be exact—is open area for ventilation.
Last is aesthetics. The metal panels perfectly complement the simple and minimalist design of the neutral-colored center. But don’t let the Facebook data center’s understated façade fool you; inside the center is a powerhouse. The energy-efficient structure houses tens of thousands of Facebook’s servers containing information for its 800 million users. The only hint that the building serves one of the busiest websites in the world is the blue flag with the iconic ‘Facebook’ logo.
To recap, those three reasons are –
1. Superior ventilation
2. LEED® Standards
3. Aesthetics
Want to learn more about the role metal has played in Facebook’s new data center? Metal Sales has the full story.
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