Eblan Imtermediate School's Colorful Metal Roof Provides Beauty, Energy Savings

Sponsored content by PETERSEN ALUMINUM CORPORATION

Buncombe County Schools, in Asheville, N.C., sought to relieve overcrowding in eight existing schools with the simultaneous construction of two new intermediate (grades 5-6) schools. The twin 107,000-square-foot facilities are identical in design and offer students a unique sense of discovery.

Sustainability was a driving directive for the design of the schools provided by Architectural Design Studio (ADS), of Asheville. The project is slated for LEED Silver status.

Eblen Intermediate School utilizes a colorful variety of PAC-CLAD profiles including 14,000 square feet of Tite-Loc Plus 24-gauge-steel panels in Bone White, Champagne, Colonial Red and Arcadia Green; 6,000 square feet of 24-gauge 7.2 Panels in Bone White, Sierra Tan and Terra Cotta; 4,000 square feet of 24-gauge M-36 Panels in Champagne; 3,000 square feet of 24-gauge 2.67-inch x 7/8-inch Corrugated Panels in Colonial Red; and 8,000 square feet of .032-inch aluminum PAC 850 Soffit Panels in Bone White.

“Metal was the natural choice to use on the roof of the buildings,” according to ADS principal Mike Cox. “School construction has been my primary focus for many years and my emphasis has always been durability. Metal gives us more durability and longer life than other materials.”

Site limitations caused some challenges with daylighting, according to Cox. “Daylighting was one of the features we really wanted to get into the buildings,” Cox says. Both buildings are oriented east/west.

ADS’ solution was to design construction of large vertical skylights, called “monitors”, for each classroom. “The monitors are designed to get daylight in the classrooms year-round but to completely avoid the entry of direct sunlight. It’s all reflected light — any day, any time, any time of year — there’s no direct sunlight.”

Installation of the PAC-CLAD material, supplied by PAC distributor Commercial Roofing Specialties, Inc., College Park, Ga., was done by Peach State Roofing, of Lawrenceville, Ga. “It was a challenging job due to the complex design and the phasing and coordination with the various trades,” says David Schmitt, vice president. “The monitor skylights were built with metal stud framing and clad with the Petersen material. The trim packages all required individual measurements. But the end product really turned out great.”

A sense of discovery is fostered in the design of the schools with educational detailing including a representation of the planets, the Pythagorean Theorem at a very large scale, a sun dial on the south wall and a collector that clearly indicates the arrival of the equinox in March and September in the interior of the school.

Completion of the schools fulfills a Buncombe County Board of Education commitment to student health, energy efficiency and state-of-the-art technology to raise the bar for future county education facilities. The buildings will use 30 percent less energy than a typical school.

Long-recognized as an industry leader in metal standing seam roofing products, Petersen also offers exposed fastener panels, flush panels, composite wall panels and column covers. All provide the well-known Petersen quality and are available in PACCLAD Kynar 500 finish in 37 standard colors on steel and aluminum. Most colors meet LEED, ENERGY STAR and cool roof certification requirements.

For more information on the complete line of Petersen metal products, call 800/PAC-CLAD or visit www.pac-clad.com.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Embry-Riddle Completes Construction on Research, Lab Facility

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced the end of construction on a new research and lab facility on campus. The Center for Aerospace Engineering II (CAT II) will support aerospace research and technology development and broke ground last summer.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • Purdue Fort Wayne Opens New Student Housing Complex

    Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) in Fort Wayne, Ind., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new, 600-bed student housing complex on campus, according to a news release.