Hitchiner Manufacturing’s Milford, N.H., facility features approximately 8,600 square feet of 2-inch Tuff Wall metal wall panels from Metl-Span. The Tuff Wall panels were installed horizontally in 24-, 30- and 36-inch profiles. In addition, approximately 1,000 square feet of Metl-Span’s Light Mesa wall panels in 42-inch widths were installed vertically. The entire 46,000-square-foot building is a combination of Metl-Span insulated metal panels, masonry and windows combined with vaulted exposed timber entry canopies. The design-build project partnered Fulcrum Associates with Dennis Mires PA The Architects.
“The owner is always budget-conscious and initially considered an EIFS exterior for cost purposes,” says Dennis Mires of Dennis Mires PA The Architects. “But the insurance provider stipulated a skin that would meet burn rate requirements. Metl-Span provided a way to meet the insurance requirements, as well as stay within budget while providing a look that reflects the high-tech nature of the company.”
Installation of the Metl-Span panels was done by Riess Construction LLC. According to owner Mike Riess: “The job was relatively straightforward, although the design did call for pylasters to cover the vertical joints and corners. With a horizontal installation, the challenge is always to maintain the lines around the building. We had a lot of interaction with the architect to make sure the coursing was correct.”
Architects: Fulcrum Associates, Amherst, N.H., and Dennis Mires PA The Architects, Manchester, N.H.
Installer: Riess Construction LLC, Plymouth, N.H.
Metal wall panels: Metl-Span, Lewisville, Texas, www.metlspan.com
