The sprawling, sparkling Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles facility sets a new standard in both energy efficiency and customer service. The brand new 43,000-square-foot facility, located in New Castle, Del., is the first state-owned building to achieve LEED Silver certification, and is the third DMV office to follow a design prototype established to optimize the customer experience.
 
Architectural design for the project was provided by Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects in Wilmington, Del. “From a design point of view, we were generally replicating the prototype that had been successful for the state. The previous two buildings had light green standing seam metal roofs, so that was a foregone conclusion for this facility,” said Bill Holloway, principal in charge for BHHA.
 
“We had the flexibility to select any quality metal panel manufacturer. Our firm uses lots of metal on various projects and most clients are fairly budget-conscious. Petersen is a manufacturer we regularly look at and was the competitive bidder,” Holloway said. The facility boasts five different PAC-CLAD roof and wall products.
 
Holloway credited the PAC-CLAD Arcadia Green color with contributing to the building’s LEED certification. Approximately 34,000 square-feet of Petersen’s 24 gauge Snap-Clad panels finished in Cool Color Arcadia Green was installed on the roof of the administration building. “The color very easily met the reflectivity requirements, and that added to the ability of the building to be sustainable and meet the LEED Silver standards,” Holloway said.
 
The facility includes a 22,000-square-foot administrative building and an attached 21,000-square-foot vehicle inspection area with seven individual inspection lanes and four drive-through teller windows.
 
Four other Petersen profiles also contributed to the design of the structure. Approximately 6,000 square-feet of PAC-CLAD 7.2 Panels in Arcadia Green and Sandstone were utilized on the walls of the facility’s inspection wing. The 7.2 Panels replaced a competitive panel that was initially installed but replaced to provide a better architectural look.
 
A limited amount of Precision Series wall panels, 7/8-inch Corrugated panels and Flush Panels also were strategically utilized on the inspection station area of the complex. All were finished in Bone White.
 
Installation of all Petersen profiles was done by Apostle Construction in Salisbury, Md. The Snap-Clad panels used on the administration building were extra-long, reaching 70 feet. “We used a special crane and bar to put them on the roof,” said Robert Brooks, project manager. “The other challenge was dealing with the various intersecting pitch changes. We custom-fabricated a lot of trim on-site.”
 
Apostle Construction has extensive experience with PAC-CLAD products. “I think we’ve pretty much used all of the profiles Petersen offers. We had excellent coordination on this project with the architect and with Petersen. That’s really the key to getting the job done right and on time,” Brooks said.
 
The finished job has earned rave reviews, including one from Jennifer Cohan, director of the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. “It’s a state-of-the-art facility. Not only was it designed to be certified LEED Silver, but it’s going to save us operating dollars in the future. The most important thing is providing quick and efficient service. Our employees in New Castle love their new home, and we’re hoping the citizens of Delaware like it as well,” she said.

The design/build team was led by Wholsen Construction in New Castle, Del.

For more information on the complete line of Petersen metal products, visit pac-clad.com.