IWR Building Systems, a specialty contractor focusing on building enclosure systems, is the exclusive contractor for the entire exterior of the new Shriners Hospital for Children. In November of 2013, IWR Building Systems became the only exterior contractor in St. Louis to be certified by the ABAA (Air Barrier Association of America) as a requirement for their current work on the new hospital.

“This project is a great opportunity for providing our clients the unique service of being a complete enclosure solution,” said Todd Staley, General Manager of IWR. “The geometric details of this project, including a rotated square metal panel façade, have resulted in a more complex exterior than any building in St. Louis. We consider this to be a showpiece project for us because of the high profile location right off the highway. This project is a major stepping stone for us, and I’m excited to see how it will affect the future of our business.”

The new 90,000-square-foot facility will replace the existing Frontenac location with the latest amenities for patients and their families. The building exterior consists of 3,600 rotated square ACM metal panels that required precise craftsmanship due to the intricate geometric details of the building surface. The panel system has been engineered with a pressure-equalized rain screen design which allows for a drainage cavity behind the panels. Having a weather-resistant barrier installed by an ABAA certified contractor reassures the building owner that the enclosure will function properly.

“On the Shriners Hospital for Children project, IWR Building Systems had the responsibility of providing virtually the entire exterior building enclosure. The complex building skin of this project required a single source to successfully integrate the several exterior systems,” said George Crow of Heitmann & Associates, Inc. “IWR’s precise layout and installation of these panels produced an exquisite appearance. Not only did IWR produce an aesthetically pleasing building exterior, but due to their attention to the interface details of the various systems, a building exterior was provided that will successfully manage water infiltration.”

With this project, IWR Building Systems is introducing a new business model for St. Louis by taking responsibility for contracting the entire building enclosure rather than using a segmented approach. This new service creates a simpler, more inclusive solution for the client.

For more information on the Shriners Hospital for Children’s construction updates and to view photos, click here.