Outstanding Optometrist’s Office Made By Metal

Through eQuote, an ABC estimating, scope generation and design software, Williams Construction Arkansas created layouts, various options, different material options and combinations for the exterior finishes, and how the facility would look both on the exterior and interior. “Williams Construction is very knowledgeable about our software and tools to help them set up budgets and designs,” explains ABC district sales manager Billy Shields. “Unique to Williams is its ability to layout a design on the front end knowing how metal buildings work, and the end product will look really nice and be cost effective.”

The optometry industry has changed over the years with technology and new equipment evolving. This space was designed with extra technology rooms that will be needed in the future. The pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) structure allows for a wide-open span. Pierce says, “The building is visually pleasing, has open air space, tall ceilings and the technicians are centrally located. Foot traffic is minimal, as when patients leave their exam, they go directly to the optic area to view frames. One hundred percent of the design is based on function and need of space.”

Hybrid Steel-Framed Structure

The Pierce Vision Specialists facility incorporates many materials—becoming what Tim Gorman, project manager at Williams Construction Arkansas, calls a hybrid steel-framed structure. “What I like about ABC is nothing is pre-engineered about a pre-engineered metal building. That’s where I use the word hybrid.

Everything is fully customized and the design process is fluid, which allows us to integrate a lot of different materials that all work together in conjunction with the overall steel structure. We like how unique this project turned out. It’s truly a metal building, but it doesn’t have the appearance of a standard metal building.”

The 8,300-square-foot facility uses a single-slope ABC steel structure framing system. The walls use ABC Architectural V Rib wall panels on one side of the building with the front and remainder of the building using metal panels by Metal Sales Manufacturing Corp., Louisville, Ky. The roof is also metal using ABC’s SS 360 standing seam roof system, which Gorman calls “a fast and economical solution when installed.”

One of the unique features of the facility is the mixture of high-end finishes combined with exposed structural steel in the interior. The metal columns and open ceiling are used as accents, rather than being concealed and covered. The contrast of polished solid surface next to exposed steel and architectural features creates a modern combination that normally isn’t blended together.

The exterior of the building integrated various metal claddings consisting of white aluminum composite metal (ACM) panels from ABC fabricated in various thicknesses, creating different shadow and sight lines in combination with flat ACM panels without the step design as a background for the Pierce Eye Specialists logo.

A stone veneer completed the unique exterior building elevations. The ABC standard slim-line canopy covering the entrance at the front of the building was not required as a structural support. But this canopy, along with a non-load bearing white “V” metal structure (standing for Vision), were used for aesthetics. Gorman says, “Canopy support rafters are nested into roof purlin cavity, rather than exposed below canopy purlins, creating a very slim profile in canopy cross-section allowing for an architectural as well as very functional design feature.”

“The most challenging aspect of this job was the timeframe,” Gorman adds. “The design started in November and due to an ending lease for the owner, the business had to be up and running in the new facility in August. It was a fast-track project. I’m not sure we could have done that without the main component of the building being American’s steel structure. When you have a unique challenge you have to overcome, it makes it nice to work with people so knowledgeable. On top of all the details, especially with a project that has this many features, having everyone on the same page is key.”

Springfield-based Advanced Metal Fabricators Inc. was the ACM fabricator, installer and the horizontal metal wall panel installer. “We also fabricated and installed the entry canopy support piece,” says Advanced Metal Fabricators owner Jason O’Neal. “[It was a] pretty straight-forward job.” Springfield-based Burk Erectors Inc. was the erector.

Overall, Pierce believes the beauty of the building is the space, patient flow and how it was designed. “Our patients say how beautiful and modern it is. We wanted to cater to the millennials, but even the older population like the modern finish inside.”