Designers behind the sleek, $15 million Central New York (CNY) Film Hub specified a high-performance, modern insulated metal panel façade from Metl-Span to complement the facility’s cutting-edge studio and soundstage—with hopes of bringing a measure of Hollywood’s glitz and glamour to nearby Syracuse.

The 52,000-square-foot CNY Film Hub incorporates a mix of active production studio, office space and conference rooms. Conveniently located just minutes from Syracuse University, LeMoyne College and Onondaga Community College and 50 miles east of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, the state-funded facility will benefit from the universities’ multiple film departments.

Incorporating over 20,000 square-feet of Metl-Span’s 3-inch, 22/26 gauge CF Architectural wall panels, the CNY Film Hub stands out amongst the neighboring brick and stucco office buildings at Collamer Crossing Business Park in DeWitt, N.Y. Architect Steve Johnson of QPK Design said the flat, monolithic panels provided the contemporary aesthetic he sought, with the added advantage of superior thermal and moisture performance.   

“The building was originally designed as a partner to match the adjacent brick veneer office building, but it was later decided that metal panels would provide a much more high-tech solution than brick,” Johnson noted.

Featuring concealed clips and fasteners, the CF Architectural panels offer a flush appearance ideal for high-profile facilities like the CNY Film Hub. Johnson specified a mix of metallic gray hues to create a “neutral, clean and simple” aesthetic.  

Metl-Span CF Architectural insulated metal wall panels rely on an innovative polyurethane foam core injected between pre-finished steel faces. The wall system provides exceptional thermal efficiency and all-weather control. The highly economical insulation process also delivers an added advantage by minimizing building energy usage and construction costs. And expediting the building enclosure reduces construction downtime to make way for interior trade work.

Available in multiple thicknesses as well as horizontal and vertical orientations, Metl-Span insulated metal wall panels provide the industry’s leading thermal and moisture performance technology in a single component. Conventional, multi-component building envelopes address the critical weather barriers with multiple product sources and installation steps.

“I think it is a more economical and efficient way to attain the required R-value and achieve the modern aesthetic,” Johnson said.  The CNY Film Hub has hosted multiple feature films since its opening in 2015 and also has residential space available for rent to the public. The hub offers competitive rates along with Onondaga County’s pre- and post-production tax breaks. It has the potential to bring countless jobs to the central New York economy, not to mention a high degree of positive attention.

The facility marks the first of a pair of projects to feature Metl-Span insulated metal wall panels at the booming Collamer Crossing Business Park.

Architect: QPK Design, Syracuse, N.Y.
IMP Installer: Ajay Glass Co., Canandaigua, N.Y.