Metal wall panels revitalize exterior of former lumber warehouse
Nashville has long been recognized for its great music and food, but lately its architecture is getting some attention too, especially for a batch of new adaptive reuse projects that are revitalizing a neighborhood that once was an industrial hub of the city. Called “The Nations” by locals, it’s home to a number of aging, vacant structures being repurposed into commercial office, retail and hospitality space.
In one such recently completed effort, a former lumber company warehouse has been transformed into 93,000 sq. ft. of office space, clad in architectural metal wall panels that create a streamlined appearance, while providing a nod to the building’s industrial past. The revitalized structure is now known as Stateline.
Designers with Centric Architecture completely reimagined the prefabricated metal building by splitting its double-height interior into two levels. Office space now occupies the upper level, while the lower level now serves as covered parking. The new design maintains the use of metal as exterior cladding, but the former aging sheet metal has been replaced with sleek architectural panels that transform the façade from tire to alive.
The architectural panels, in a combination of 7- and 12-in. widths, are installed vertically to emphasize height, with pencil ribs that almost mimic the appearance of timber board-and-batten siding – this was a former lumber company, after all. The building team, which also included Pinaire Roofing of Hendersonville, Tenn., selected PAC-CLAD Flush panels from Petersen to develop this new look.
In all, 59,000 sq. ft. of the panels in the two widths were specified, all in the company’s Bone White finish and fabricated from 22-gauge steel. These panels are designed for applications where a flush or flat appearance is desired, with a rounded interlock leg and concealed fastening system that emphasizes a flush look while also providing added strength.
