ELK GROVE VILLAGE, ILL. – The Class of 2026's return to campus has meant a return to what has become an overbooked housing market in college communities. A number of developers have business models that address these needs, often with properties that look more like vacation resorts than traditional dorms.
The new ōLiv Tempe building in Tempe, Ariz., serving students at Arizona State University, is one example. Among the high-rise structure’s signature elements are the architectural metal panels in a custom red finish that clad a section of the building’s parking deck, directly above the main entrance.
'CONTEMPORARY, RELAXED, ELEVATED LIVING'
The project is one of five currently bearing Core Space’s ōLiv branding – one of six student-housing chains under Core Space ownership. ōLiv properties represent “contemporary, relaxed and elevated urban living in the best university markets,” according to the company.
Amenities for the 268-unit facility include a gym, spa, clubroom, and rooftop pool, along with street-level retail. According to Cristina McMahon, senior associate with the Chicago office of architects Antunovich Associates, designers were given a very specific brief when it came to the building’s exterior appearance.
CLIENT DESIGN GOAL: 'TOWER OF BABYLON'
“Our client’s exact phrase for describing their exterior design goal was ‘Tower of Babylon,’” she said. “As with all our firm’s other projects with our client, we want people to know that they are arriving at a Core Spaces development.”
Metal panels were a part of architects’ plans for the garage from the start, McMahon said, both for their good looks and their ability to stand up to the elements. “Using metal wall panels next to softer materials – in this case, the EIFS of the building’s tower – creates an eye-catching visual juxtaposition. On this project, the panels are used to clad the parking garage because programmatically these levels must withstand more abuse than the exterior cladding of the tower.”
The Antunovich team broke up the expanse of metal along the multiple parking deck floors by adding vertical strips of steel boxes in a charcoal finish. The metal strips look somewhat like windows and create additional visual interest.
“The parking structure is quite long, and the introduction of a new material and pattern in its cladding serves to break up the façade,” McMahon said. “This change in material also occurs directly over the building’s main entry, naturally providing a wayfinding device for pedestrians.”
INSTALLER LIKED VARIETY, PRICING, QUALITY OF PETERSEN PANEL SYSTEM
The architects, along with installers from the Phoenix office of Global Roofing Group, chose Petersen’s Precision Series panels in the Highline M1 profile for the garage cladding in a custom Toile Red finish that relates to ASU’s team colors. Additional Highline M1 panels in charcoal gray were specified for trim work around the garage and other building areas. All the panels were fabricated from 22-gauge PAC-CLAD steel.
“We enjoy working with Petersen because they have a lot of different systems, they’re priced fairly, and they’re top-of-the-line with a few other manufacturers,” said Shawn Wood, Global Roofing’s national operations manager. The company’s accessibility is also a big advantage. “They have a local office and plant – it’s easier when you can just knock on somebody’s door.”
While this wasn’t a particularly big job for the installers, Wood noted that the time frame was "very, very difficult, because we were one of the last things to go on the building. We worked nights and weekends, and the university was still able to get their temporary occupancy certificate.”
FINAL EXECUTION FOLLOWED DESIGN INTENT
"The finished product is almost identical to the renderings produced during the entitlement phase, indicating that the installers worked closely with our team to meet design intent,” McMahon said. “By the time the building opened to the public, nearly every residential unit had already been leased, which demonstrates the positive public reaction.”
“It was a pretty flawless job from a materials standpoint,” said Wood. “I think it’s absolutely gorgeous – the overall project is beautiful; it definitely turns heads.”
ABOUT PETERSEN AND PAC-CLAD
Petersen, a Carlisle company, manufactures PAC-CLAD architectural metal cladding systems in multiple gauges of steel and aluminum. PAC-CLAD products include hidden- and exposed-fastener wall panels, standing seam roof panels, flush- and reveal-joint wall panels, vented or solid soffit panels, perforated metal, coil and flat sheet, composite panels, column covers, plus fascia and coping. All are available in a Kynar-based 70% PVDF Fluropon coating in 46 standard colors and 16 wood grain finishes that include a 30-year finish warranty. Most colors meet LEED requirements and are rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council. Custom colors and weathertightness warranties are offered. BIM and CAD documents are available for most products.
Founded in 1965, Petersen’s facilities are located in Illinois, Georgia, Texas, Maryland, Arizona and Minnesota. For more information, visit pac-clad.com or write to info@pac-clad.com.
