Building Enclosure logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Building Enclosure logo
  • NEWS
    • Breaking News
  • SECTIONS
    • Columns
    • Project Profiles
    • Trade Shows
    • Sponsor Insights
  • SYSTEM DESIGNS
    • Low-Slope Roofs
    • Pitched Roofs
    • Metal Roofing Materials
    • Waterproofing
    • Sustainability
    • Insulation
    • Exterior Claddings
    • Wall Systems
    • Building Envelope
  • BLOG
    • The BE Blog
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • Quiz
    • Videos
    • Polls
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Newsletter
    • Photo Galleries
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Directory: Blue Book
    • Directory: Roofing Resource
  • PRODUCTS
  • TECHNICAL
    • Codes
      • Waterproofing
      • Roofing
    • Details
      • Waterproofing
      • Roofing
  • CONTINUING ED
  • ABOUT
    • Advertise
      • Editorial Calendar
    • Contact
    • eMag Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Insulation

Metl-Span Insulated Metal Panels Needed!

palm beach operations center
Palm Beach Gardens Operation Center
May 21, 2020

Design-build projects for the public sector always come with specific requirements with little room for flexibility. The City of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., wanted its new Operations Center to meet the requirements of LEED Silver certification, look great and be designed to withstand 205 mph ultimate wind speeds, all while staying within a strict budget. The choice of insulated metal panels (IMPs) from Metl-Span helped meet those goals.

“The initial plan was to use a tilt-up concrete product or another masonry product,” says Richard Ahrens, president of Ahrens Companies. “We converted the design to include insulated metal panels. The first 10 feet, we used masonry, mainly to support the bar joists of the second floor. Everything above that is insulated metal panels, and it’s constructed to stand up to a Category 5 hurricane.”

The insulated metal panels all have a 2-1/2-inch urethane core to provide an R-value of 19.4. The 24-gauge exterior panels are in two colors: Winter White with a Striated finish (5,566 square feet) and Medium Beige with a TuffWall finish (13,539 square feet), which has a stucco appearance. The 26-gauge interior panels are all Igloo White. Ahrens also contracted to have vertical columns’ panels painted at the entrance, Golden Grass and Baguette, to serve as an architectural accent.

Ahrens says the use of insulated metal panels helped meet Palm Beach Garden’s architectural criteria while providing a cost-effective approach, long-term durability and high energy efficiency. Because IMPs go up faster than masonry products – Ahrens purchased a time-saving insulated panel lifter several years ago to save even more time – labor costs were reduced. The energy efficiency and recyclability of insulated metal panels also helped earn points toward LEED Silver certification.

Ahrens Companies is an experienced and versatile one-stop shop, with teams that handle design, engineering as well as construction. The company has successfully completed a variety of projects, including industrial/manufacturing facilities, office buildings, gymnasiums, private FBO and airport hangars, medical offices and emergency response facilities.

The new Palm Beach Gardens Operations Center is a city government facility featuring administrative offices, breakrooms and multiple maintenance bays that will house the city’s public works department.

Mesco Building Solutions provided the framing for the facility as well as the standing seam metal roofing, part of an insulated system that provided an R-value of 30. The interior walls and ceiling of the maintenance bays were covered with Mesco’s PBR panels in Polar White to hide and protect any conduit and the sprinkling system. These durable panels are also easy for city employees to clean.

This article was originally posted on www.wconline.com.
KEYWORDS: architecture certification insulation Metl-Span

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

 

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • bar graph shows LEED v4/LEED v5/LEED v6 in various colors

    When Will LEED v4 / v4.1 and LEED v5 Expire?

    The latest version of the LEED rating system, LEED v5, is...
    Sustainability
    By: Daniel Overbey
  • Celebrating Women In AEC-2026

    Celebrating Women in The AEC Industry Part 1

    A round-up of women in the design, engineering and...
    Sustainability
    By: Lindsay Lewis
  • KEE membrane application on a roof

    A Beginner’s Guide to Single-Ply Roofing Membranes

    While PVC and TPO appear extremely similar, the chemistry...
    Low-Slope Roofs
    By: Peter Gross
Manage My Account
  • Sign up for the Newsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Registration Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Building Enclosure audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Building Enclosure or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • HITT Construction headquarters
    Sponsored byBuilding Composites® LLC

    Pushing the Envelope

  • 2 construction workers and a DEXcell panel
    Sponsored byDEXcell Roof Boards

    Designing Low-Slope Roofs for Resilience

  • Bell Bank headquarters in Fargo, North Dakota
    Sponsored bySto Corp.

    Drained and Back-Ventilated Rainscreens vs Pressurized-Equalized Rainscreens

Popular Stories

graphic shows white arrows pointing to the right on a light green background

A Breakdown of Air Leakage Testing in LEED v5 BD+C

Open vs. closed cell foam in an attic

Open-Cell vs. Closed-Cell Spray Foam

skyscraper

NYC Tower Failure Offers Warning for Contractors

Building Enclosure Newsletter

BE Poll

Events

April 9, 2026

Strategies for High-Performance Below-Grade Waterproofing

Credits: 1 AIA LU/HSW ; 1 IIBEC CEH; 0.1 IACET CEU

On-Demand Designing a high-performance building enclosure requires more than just surface-level protection; it demands a rigorous, performance-based mastery of below-grade water and gas mitigation. This discussion will provide an expert-level analysis of below-grade waterproofing within the comprehensive framework of the high-performance building enclosure.

April 28, 2026

Roof Design Considerations That Prevent Installation Failures and Change Orders

Credit: 1 AIA LU/HSW; 1 IIBEC CEH; 0.1 ICC CEU

On-Demand This course provides visual examples of actual field conditions. Some good, some not so good; along with design suggestions that can cut installation costs and reduce construction change orders. Upon completion of this course, you will have a better understanding of the requirements the roofing contractor must meet to provide the specified roofing system warranty, and long-term value to the owner.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Plaster and Drywall Assemblies Manual

Plaster and Drywall Assemblies Manual

This is a comprehensive manual that goes beyond codes and standards, providing expert guidance in design, detailing, material selection and troubleshooting for plaster and drywall.

See More Products

Related Articles

  • metl-span images 2

    Metl-Span Insulated Metal Panels Chosen for Campus Renovation

    See More
  • Insulated Metal Panels

    See More
  • Kingrib 3 - Ext Corner at Intermediate

    Kingspan Insulated Panels North America Launches KingRib Wall Insulated Metal Panels

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 1118749847.jpg

    The Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition

See More Products
×

Enhance your expertise with unparalleled insights.

Join thousands of building professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • Newsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing