Owensboro Convention Center clad in smooth aluminium panels wins Metal Architecture Design Award

<p>Owensboro Convention Center, at Kentucky received the 2016 Metal Architecture Design Award in the Smooth Metal Wall Panels category for its outstanding, smooth aesthetics. Lorin Industries Inc. supplied the BlackMatt LL Brushed and ClearMatt LL Brushed anodized aluminium that clads the beautiful building.<br /><br />Brad McWhirter, AIA, design director at New Orleans-based Trahan Architects, says his firm drew inspiration for the design from tobacco barns, a common building type that represents the vernacular architecture of the area. McWhirter says that the vertical brushed finishes on the anodized aluminium panels on the exterior of the building refer to wood grain on the tobacco barns.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/owensboro1_446x310.jpg" alt="News" width="446" height="310" /><br /><br />Approximately 50,000 square feet of 0.05- inch Alloy 5205 H34 aluminium vertical have been installed in the building, interlocking rainscreen system with brushed finish and Architectural Class 1 Anodic Film on the exterior walls. Additionally, it installed the same at the facade and exterior balconies with slight variations. MetalTech-USA whose aluminium verticals are used in the building, fabricated all of its panels for the project with Muskegon, Mich.-based Lorin Industries' anodized aluminium coil.<br /><br />McWhirter says his firm specified acoustical, painted aluminium ceiling system to reproduce MetalTech-USA's silver metal soffit panels to create a smooth balance between exterior and interior of the building. The aluminium ceiling system extends through the lobbies, ballrooms and meeting rooms.</p>