Houston Elementary

Houston Elementary

Application: Walls

Building Type: K-12 Education

Houston Elementary School, located at 1100 50th Place, NE, has just received a full modernization to increase an enrollment capacity of 336 students to 400 students by SY 2025-2026. The project will align with the District-wide educational specifications and will achieve LEED BD+C Schools – Gold certification. Project construction began in Summer 2018 and will be completed for SY2020.

Cox Grae Spack Architects selected Swisspearl high density fiber cement panels were specified to create a very attractive portrait panel project bring a beautiful pastel color palette to the Northeast elementary school community. The 4 color panels used the Carat thru bodied colored cores to provide a beautiful design. The portrait panels were also provided in variable widths in a random pattern from course to course, complimenting the random color pattern.

The unique, semi-translucent signature finish from Swisspearl, added a depth of color different from most opaque coated panels. This finish in conjunction with the high cement content of 72%, present a natural tone to the material, while maintaining the highest density and highest protection of any cement fiber panel. Absorption means freeze thaw damage, panel discoloration and potential for mold with heavy cellulose and wood fiber reinforcement.

Finally, to keep the design in budget, the CGS design team specified the Hunter Panel XCI Ply, insulated structural sheathing panels. This panel incorporates 5/8” FRT Plywood sheathing laminated to a high R-Value Polyiso board panel to achieve a continuous cavity insulation without the use of an expensive dual subframing system. The only thermal bridge in the structural sheathing is the SOIP screw which is set into the light gauge metal studs. Swisspearl 8 mm cladding only weighs about 3 lbs./sf with the aluminum vertical hat and Z channels. This lightweight yet durable skin, transfers the load back to the studs while providing a continuous nail-able surface to eliminate concerns about alignment of the panel hole pattern to the stud layout.

The combination of Swisspearl and the XCI subframing CI provide the best value to the DC Public Schools with a high-quality panel that will last the life of the building. With todays rising construction costs, it is imperative that we deliver quality materials that are durable and sustainable for our institutional building.