Photo: Simon Hurst
Flight was an inspiration in Selser Schaefer Architects’ design of the Excelsior Building at Oklahoma State University, which houses the Unmanned Systems Research Institute. The building’s sloping roof captures the movement of liftoff as it climbs upward toward the main entry and cantilevered overhang.
The institute is a collaborative hub for the research, design, development and testing of unmanned aerial systems. The 8,000-square-foot building is located in the university’s industrial zone. A metal building system, metal roof and metal walls give the project a modern, industrial aesthetic and provide a symbolic connection to its use for technological activities.
Alliance Steel Inc. supplied its metal building system for a superstructure. At the entrance, a storefront system was built, supplied by Kawneer Co. Inc.
At the roof, 9,190 square feet of Alliance Steel’s 24-gauge LT3.3 panels in White and Charcoal Gray were installed. At soffits, 300 square feet of Alliance Steel’s 24-gauge A12 panels in White were installed. At walls, 8,720 square feet of 24-gauge LT3.3 panels in White and 1,190 square feet in Charcoal Gray were installed.
