After reviewing a series of architectural design options, the project team settled on creating a structure that would blend architecturally with existing buildings in the neighborhood.

“We broke down the massing with four structures that are connected together at the school’s media center, which serves as the hub of the design,” said project architect Joseph Culotta.

The three-story, circular media center is roofed with Petersen Aluminum Corp.’s 16-inch Snap-Clad metal panels that were segmented to create the radius. In addition to the media center, the pitched roofs on the four adjoining structures also use Snap-Clad panels. More than 22,000 square feet of Snap-Clad 0.040-thick aluminum panels finished in Hartford green and dark bronze were installed.

Metal was determined to be the roofing material of choice fairly early in the process, Culotta said.

“There are a lot of barns in the area and many of them have metal standing-seam roofs and zoning requirements stipulated that any portion of the building that faced a major street must have a pitched roof,” he said. “There are 12/12 pitches everywhere; so we opted to reference the local area with metal in two colors that complemented the brick and (concrete masonry) facade.”

Culotta also noted the only design challenges were reconciling the pitched roof and the size of the school, and detailing where the pitched roof came into the flat roof portions of the building.

Installation of the Pac-Clad material was done by Cromwell, Conn.-based Imperial Co., which has done a lot of work with Petersen Snap-Clad panels, said Imperial President Bruce Raulukaitis.

“The job went very well. We used 30-foot panels and it was relatively straight-forward overall, although the segmented panels took a little time,” he said. “We had to tie into some valleys that were somewhat difficult. But we worked out all of the details with the construction manager and the architect and it all came together for a great-looking job.”

The school’s principal, Cindy Rigling, said she was excited to move into the new building.

 “The CREC International Magnet School community is passionate, collaborative and 100 percent committed to the success of our students,” she said. “The move into our new home means that we will be able to offer our teachers and students the very best resources and learning tools.”