Farley Elementary School, Topeka, Kan.

by Jonathan McGaha | 26 April 2011 12:00 am

To help create a functional, yet exciting environment for K-6 grade students, the project utilized approximately 6,000 square feet of 0.08 aluminum panels finished in Green, Terra Cotta, Silver and Gold from Dri-Design.

HTK Architects provided the design for the 93,000-square-foot school. “Kids should experience creativity as they grow and evolve. It shapes who they are and who they become,” says Chuck Smith, partner at HTK and the project architect and designer. “Farley is a large facility and we needed to scale it down to the users with functional and creative designs that would help the children’s cognitive mapping process. Materiality and colors played a big role in that.”

On the exterior, the Dri-Design panels interface with traditional masonry. A large, multicolored Dri-Design panel “fin” marks the entrance to the school and extends into the main lobby area as a landmark to help students find their way.

 

 

Project leaders considered a variety of exterior panel systems. “But when we identified that we needed a solution that was affordable and that we could be creative with, that’s when we landed on Dri-Design,” says Smith. “There’s been a great reaction to the finished project from the kids, teachers and the community. Everybody loves it.”

Architect: HTK Architects, Topeka

Installer: Diamond Everly Roofing Contractors, Topeka

Distributor: SGH Inc., Riverside, Mo.

Metal wall panels: Dri-Design, Holland, Mich., www.dri-design.com

Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/projects/farley-elementary-school-topeka-kan/

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