The Metal
Construction Association (MCA)
2014 Chairman’s Award honored The Valspar Corporation for its contribution to
Chaffin Junior High School’s colorful renovation and addition in Fort Smith,
Arkansas. Recognized in the category of “Educational – Primary and Secondary,”
the project features metal wall panels and custom, aluminum accents finished in
five colors using Valspar’s
70% PVDF Fluropon® products.
Coatings Gives School a Fresh FaceMatching the school’s
colors – Hunter Green and Vegas Gold – Valspar’s coatings playfully distinguish
the fresh façade, complementing and transforming the 45-year-old brick
exterior. Opened in 1969, Chaffin Junior High
School has continued to serve its growing community with little change to
the original, brick box-shaped building. As enrollment doubled and teaching
technology evolved, more space was required to serve the 872 students plus
faculty, staff and community.
Fulfilling the Fort Smith Public Schools’ mission to provide “students a
promising transition into the 21st century,” Architecture
Plus, Inc. designed Chaffin Junior High School’s renovation and expansion.
As part of this project, G.A.G. Builders, Inc. constructed 37,500 square
feet of additions for administrative services and for music and fine arts.
Completed in May 2013, total construction fees for the project are estimated at
$9 million.
Keeping it SecureModernization of the
school also included blending a creative learning environment with the security
and accessibility requirements of today’s k-12 facilities. Balancing visibility
and vision, the exterior was updated with a secured entry tower and a bright
and colorful metal façade.
Cladding the new addition and entry, the metal wall panel system was
manufactured by Citadel Architectural Products, Inc., and installed by
Architectural Glass and Metals. With respect to the school’s colors, the metal
trim is finished in Valspar’s Kendall Green.
Valspar Receives AwardThe annual MCA awards
selected the Chaffin Junior High School project as an example highlighting
innovation and creativity, while showcasing how metal products help achieve
exceptional building designs. Valspar and the other building team members were
presented with the MCA Chairman’s Award during the METALCON Conference in
Denver on Oct. 1.
Valspar’s contributions to Florida’s
Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral's color-changing, metal-clad exterior
also were honored in the category of Institutional Projects. Valspar previously
was recognized with an MCA 2013 Chairman’s Award as part of the Central Arizona
College, Maricopa Campus project team.
The MCA awards
are selected from among the entries submitted to Metal Architecture Magazine's
annual Design Awards Program. A judging panel comprised of experienced
architects and industry professionals make the selections. Learn more about the
MCA and its awards at
www.metalconstruction.org.
Valspar supports its award-winning projects and innovative coating systems with
industry-leading technical expertise, color-matching and sustainability
resources, responsive customer service and high-priority lead times. For
detailed descriptions on Valspar’s Fluropon products, please visit
www.valsparcoilextrusion.com.