In designing this LEED Gold complex at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, Ariz., the architects at Tempe, Ariz.–based Architekton turned to ACM panels for their recyclability and ease of construction. The panels are used on the east and west façades of the building’s core volumes. These interlocking panels are fastened to an insulated concrete form system to offer rain protection and give a metallic backdrop to the green landscape of the courtyard, which is covered by a 250-foot-long shade canopy. The metal skin is perforated on the south side of the building to create alcoves that allow for views out of the building, while still mitigating solar heat gain.
Jury Quotes“Dynamic, fun, a compendium of strategies, and a relentless creativity. Curiously comfortable desert landscape as well. Really laudatory, exciting, place-specific, intriguing, artistic—there’s just not a category you can imagine where this thing doesn’t win.” —Andre Kikoski
“The layering creates such a beautiful façade and it’s really very much like Arizona.” —Sylvia Botero
“I like the layered look. It’s a great project.” —Scott Kriner
Project Credits
Project Chandler-Gilbert Community College Ironwood Hall, Chandler, Ariz.
Client Maricopa County Community College District
Architect Architekton, Tempe, Ariz.
General Contractor Caliente Construction
Labs Lord Aeck & Sargent
Structural Engineer Paragon Structural Design
M/E/P Engineer ESD
Civil Engineer Hess Rountree
Consultants Convergent Technologies; Abacus Project Management; Terrano
Metal Product Installer Total Metals; WBE Steel Services
Size 58,459 square feet
Metal Products
Cladding Rollfab Metal Building Products (Metal Panel Skin, Sheffield Metals COOLR) rollfabmetal.com; Citadel Architectural Products (Aluminum Composite Metal Panels, clear-anodized coating) citadelap.com
Canopy MBCI (steel shade canopy purlins) mbci.com