Multiple, melded materials make for a jazz-connected residence hall
Charlotte, N.C.-based Johnson C. Smith University needed a new dormitory to expand its student housing, and the musically historic West End District of Charlotte was in need of revitalization. Developed on a former brownfield site, this mixed-use project is called Mosaic Village, with a first level of retail space and living quarters on top. It has sparked new life in an abandoned corridor between Charlotte’s historic West End and its central district.
The project’s primary goal was to take a residence hall, a building that has overbearing repetition, and to turn that into a dynamic design incorporating the story of the historic West End area through its connection with jazz music. The project features insulated metal panels (IMPs), aluminum composite metal panels
(ACM), single-skin panels and brick. The challenge was to bring all of the design elements together to achieve the structure’s jazzy goals.
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| Photo courtesy of Kingspan Insulated Panels |
Deland, Fla.-based Kingspan Insulated Panels’ panels’ unique detailing and aesthetics helped compose the architectural notes of this jazz song in a clear and precise way, says Daniel McNamme, project architect at Charlotte-based Neighboring Concepts PLLC. “There were several different building materials utilized on this project, but Kingspan eased the method of construction as the IMPs became the critical path required to finish the exterior façade,” he adds. “The ease of integration between Kingspan panels and other building materials was an important factor in meeting the construction deadline for this project as well.”
For this building, Kingspan Benchmark DW2000V with a Kynar Finish was the chosen IMP. It is a 24-inch module and lengths varied depending on which area they were placed. The single-skin panels specified were Kingspan Morin 29 7/8 with a Kynar Silversmith finish. The panels, with a 1/2-inch reveal, were also used for the soffits to give total encapsulation of each bumped out area.
“Using Kingspan IMPs to construct Mosaic Village allowed smooth one-piece seamless corners for clean, crisp building details at the corners,” says the building’s installer Mike Dunlap, regional sales manager of Preformed Metal Panels Inc., Chesapeake, Va. The general contractor for the project was Dallas-based Balfour Beatty Construction.
Time and space were factors that directly affected the critical path of construction. Contractors were under a tight schedule on a difficult job site. They had to install the Kingspan product in a very limited work area near busy city streets. Panels had to be stored nearby, but not on the actual job site. “Kingspan IMPs have the flexibility to blend easily with other finishes and the installation time went faster,” Dunlap says. “That helped us meet a very rigid schedule.” Jim Matthews, president of Preformed Metal Panels, notes the IMPs used to construct Mosaic Village added an extra layer of thermal protection and the smooth look of one-piece seamless corners. Each of its levels is articulated by a different color, reemphasizing diversity. All of this produces a melded structure that can be likened to a mosaic.
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| Photo courtesy of Kingspan Insulated Panels |
“Gazing at a mosaic, it is nearly impossible to comprehend the amount of time and precision required to create the natural blending of elements that result in the final image,” McNamee says. “Individually the pieces may appear disjointed, yet when placed together the result is incredible. The insulated panel became the critical path material to finish the exterior façade.”
Now established as a favorite among university students, the 299-bed residence hall has 7,000 square feet of retail space and a 400-car parking deck. As one of the main features of the village, a Skyline Terrace rests on the top level of the deck, serving as a place to gather with a skyline view of uptown Charlotte. Mosaic Village’s overall structural design is commensurate with the area’s historical connection with jazz music.
Sidebar: Mosaic Village, Charlotte, N.C.
Owner: Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte
General contractor: Balfour Beatty Construction, Dallas
Architect: Neighboring Concepts PLLC, Charlotte
Installer: Preformed Metal Panels Inc., Chesapeake, Va.
Metal wall panels: Kingspan Insulated Panels, Deland, Fla., www.kingspanpanels.us
