Wheaton Library

Wheaton Library

Application: Walls

Building Type: Civic

Montgomery County needed to upgrade two county facilities located in Wheaton on adjacent site. Grimm & Parker designed a 92,000 SF, next generation, multi-use facility, bringing state of the art services and recreational activities to the community. The design integrated shares spaces for all ages from multipurpose ballfield, a playground area, a multi-court gymnasium, an elevated track, exercise/game rooms, and even art and activity center. In addition, the space includes a social hall, computer lab, reading rooms and a full-service library with a used bookstore.

The design incorporated a Henry Air Barrier, in a very contemporary rainscreen wall assembly clad with metal panels and a vivid, brightly colored blend of High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) panels. The HPL panels were manufactured by Fundermax, and Austrian based HPL manufacturing company that specializes in architectural facade and interior panels. Grimm & Parker developed a portrait panel layout of three harvest fall colors (Electric Yellow 0610, Safron 0736 and Satsuma 6020) that come to life in the glorious sunlight. The surrounding finish include tonal gray metal panels and a maize colors rubble stone wall, juxtaposed with large glass curtainwall elements. The Fundermax HPL panels provide owners with an extremely durable, impact resistant panel with outstanding graffiti resistance and zero maintenance.

Fundermax provides a full complement of LEED points, including EPD’s and HPD’s, while manufactures to the highest international standards complying with the following standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001 and ISO 45001. In addition, we can provide GreenGuard, FSC and PEFC certifications with our HPL panels and full ICC Code Compliance.

Fundermax, the industry leader in HPL architectural panels, recently introduced the first mineral based HPL marketed in the US under the brand name NCORE, for non-combustible core. While our standard Max Compact is a Class A fire rated core, meeting NFPA 285 requirements with mineral wool cavity insulation, podium 3A and 3B construction has been a problem. The NCORE technically has created a truly, non-combustible panel that meets ASTM E 136 using either a 7 mm or 9 mm thick panel in exposed fastening attachment format. This new innovation can now take Fundermax onto any Flamebloc OSB, FRT Plywood or insulated structural sheathing panels like Hunter’s XCI PLY and meet code. This exciting development will open up many design possibilities on multi-family and education buildings.