One Research Drive is home to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (ICAR). CENTRIA®, the world’s leading provider of high-performance building envelopes, contributed more than 13,000 square feet of Formawall™ to the building façade, which visually echoes nearby campus buildings also clad in Formawall.

“We aimed to have the material connection across all facades, – the ICAR and the Center for Emerging Technologies – in addition to the same durability and speed of installation we enjoyed with the Emerging Technologies project,” says Chris Stone, Associate Principal, LS3P, the firm responsible for the building design.  

The 85,000 square-foot structure aesthetically unites other nearby Clemson structures with the same clean lines and modern aesthetic. The design team with LS3P associates leveraged the sleek exterior and consistency afforded by working with Formawall.

“We utilized the CENTRIA panels in a continuous ribbon across the building, which enabled it to have a uniform, distinct façade: Its 4 sides all have prominent frontage and CENTRIA panels formed the primary skin that wrapped around the entire building,” says Stone.

Formawall is CENTRIA’s flagship line of insulated metal panels, combining unprecedented design freedom with unmatched performance. The product’s five distinct profiles deliver unlimited design combinations and create the world’s most imaginative building envelopes with varying articulations, rhythms, and textures. 

Not only did Formawall provide the optimal building façade for Clemson’s needs, but the design team also opted to use the product for its accelerated and seamless installation capabilities.

“We have been working with CENTRIA products for quite some time and find that their speed of installation, longevity, and durability are all factors that make them ideal for our needs,” says Stone. “At the International Center for Automotive Research, the CENTRIA product was installed quickly enough to get the core and shell enclosed on-schedule.”

Other members of the design and construction team included general contractor, Sherman Construction, and CENTRIA dealer, Steel Clad, Inc.