Redefining Calgary’s newest social destination

Reinventing an 80-acre open-air mall in a Calgary winter is no small undertaking.

But that’s exactly what Thermo Design Insulation was tasked with when transforming Deerfoot City Mall into a dynamic social hub that would alter the area’s retail landscape.

With Deerfoot City’s four zones — Food Lodge, Style District, Restaurant Campus and Central Plaza — the 1.1 million square foot property has something for everyone. Its 150 shops, services, and restaurants include everything from McDonald’s and Tim Hortons, to Sally’s Beauty Supply and LensCrafters, just to name a few.

Deerfoot City was faced with several challenges as it underwent this transformation. Not only did it intend to create a more structurally sound exterior with higher insulating values than its previous concrete material, but also the facility needed flexible building products that would make for a quick installation process in order to align with the project’s tight schedule. In addition, Deerfoot City needed materials that would bring its façade to life, matching the vibrant look and feel of the rebranded campus.

That’s why the company turned to Metl-Span and its CF Architectural insulated metal panels —products that now protect and define Calgary’s largest retail transformation.

“The envelope is the most critical part of the building,” said Tyson Jones, Thermo Design Insulation District Manager. “Metl-Span insulated metal panels provide design flexibility, without sacrificing performance.”

A Paneling Product for All Seasons

Metl-Span’s CF Architectural panels were specified to allow patrons to enjoy their social experience in the open-air mall, despite the daily winter temperatures that tend to be below freezing. The panels feature a Class 1 polyurethane foam core between two steel-face sheets to achieve peak thermal values.

Expansive transformations like the Deerfoot City Mall require installation flexibility, an important factor when frigid temperatures can dip below-30 degrees Celcius. Metl-Span’s CF Architectural panels can be installed in all weather conditions, keeping each phase of the project on time and on budget in Calgary’s harsh winter weather.

Deerfoot City also wanted its panels to match the upscale rebrand it was trying to achieve—without an expensive price tag. Metl-Span’s rich white (both Igloo White and Polar White) and complementary gray (Charcoal Gray, Regal Gray and Slate Gray) finishes with their trimless ends proved to be the ideal palettes to achieve the desired high-end and aluminum composite look of Deerfoot City’s new identity.

For more information on Metl-Span’s unique blend of high performance and aesthetically appealing products, visit metlspan.com/performance.