Western Specialty Contractors Architectural Sheet Metal Branch 123 in Kansas City, Kansas recently completed fabrication and installation of custom-colored Aluminum Composite Metal (ACM) wall panels on the new Lawrence Memorial Health West (LMH West) in Lawrence, Kansas.
Construction on the new $100 million outpatient facility began in August 2018 and was completed in fall 2020. The 240,000-square-foot facility is located adjacent to Rock Chalk Park sports complex in northwest Lawrence and visible from highways K-10 and I-70.
Western was hired to fabricate and install over 1,200 custom-designed ACM wall panels and column covers (materials supplied by Citadel Architectural Products) on the hospital’s exterior. The ACM panels are a custom graphite gray and wood-look finish and were installed in one direction to achieve the desired architectural look.
Western custom fabricated the panels, which are required to be heated to a specific temperature during the fabrication process to prevent the paint from fracturing. Western’s sheet metal crew then installed the panels to the building’s eyebrow dormers, reverse mansard roof and canopies.
ACM wall panels are extremely durable; resistant to fire, weathering and staining; and maintain their finish longer than granite or brick with less maintenance. Serving as a rainscreen system, the panels also provide an air gap that allows water drainage and evaporation of moisture that can accumulate behind the cladding panel.
The architect on the project was Pulse Design and McCownGorden Construction was the general contractor.
About Western Specialty Contractors Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit www.westernspecialtycontractors.com.
