Architectural Zinc Wall Panels Clad New Career Center
The Wonderful Company’s new Career Center showcases a modern, sustainable and resilient exterior clad in RHEINZINK-prePATINA® Graphite-Grey architectural zinc with a lifespan of up to 100 years, serving generations of learners. Designed by AECOM, the architects selected RHEINZINK-prePATINA for its longevity, durability and naturally evolving appearance.
Wonderful Career Center is located in Shafter, California, approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Developed by Wonderful Real Estate, construction on the training facility began in 2021 and was completed in 2022. It offers three classrooms, four laboratories and an expansive conference room.
To clad the 37,200-square-foot structure, Old Country Millwork supplied Four C’s Construction with approximately 8 tons of RHEINZINK’s architectural zinc. Four C’s fabricated the natural metal material into 12-inch-wide reveal wall panels and installed 7,600 square feet on the building’s exterior.
“There is a long tradition of zinc in the vernacular architecture of the Central Valley. Its durability and reduced maintenance are among the many reasons for its use,” explained AECOM’s associate and project designer, Alec Andrade, RA, NCARB. “The client always seeks to provide value in their endeavors. A cladding which has an extended lifespan is part of that search for added value. RHEINZINK was a logical choice for this rather harsh climate and will naturally age to an evolved patina,but remain coherent with the environment.”