ALPOLIC Panels Showcase School's Branding at LEED Theatre

The LEED-certified Monarch Theatre at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia provides performance and rehearsal space for the University’s Fine Arts Department. The 25,000-square-foot structure accomplishes all the needs of a small theatric community including a 150-seat performance hall, rehearsal room, shop space, dressing rooms, and faculty offices.

To compliment the building’s beige and glass façade, the fabricators at Roof Services Corporation installed blue ALPOLIC aluminum composite panels as an accent material along the exterior. The soffits, entrance way and fascia are also clad in ALPOLIC blue ACM consistent with the University’s slate blue brand image.

Incorporating numerous sustainable features, the building uses state-of-the-art technology to improve indoor air quality and reduce water and energy consumption. The building also features a reflective roof membrane that decreases solar radiation. ALPOLIC aluminum composite panels were specified among several other locally manufactured and sourced building materials.

Green school construction accounts for one of the largest market sectors of green construction as a whole. As discussed in previous articles, this is due to several factors including improving student well being and the reduction of future maintenance inconvenience and cost.

Educational facilities in particular are exposed to heavy use throughout the school year, so building materials must be able to withstand that use over time. Additionally, when used on exterior envelopes and facades, architectural materials are left exposed to a variety of natural elements, including UV radiation, wind, and rain.

In order to prevent increased degradation from these factors, a protective coating containing Lumiflon FEVE resin was applied to the ALPOLIC panels used. This resin reduces deterioration, increases longevity, and keeps industrial maintenance costs low. Should any damage of the material occur, composite panels are cheaper and easier to fix or replace than other, more traditional building materials. The use of ALPOLIC's composite panels on educational facilities continues to increase as they prove to be a durable exterior cladding material.

images © Mark Rhodes for Mitsubishi Plastics Composites America

information © Moseley Architects and Roof Services Corporation