Approximately 6,000 sq. ft. of Dri-Design panels were used to help create a functional yet exciting environment for K-6 grade students at the new Farley Elementary School in Topeka, KS.   The .080 aluminum panels were finished in Green, Terra Cotta, Silver and Gold.

The Dri-Design Wall Panel System is an affordable dry joint, pressure-equalized rainscreen system.

Design for the 93,000 sq. ft. facility was provided by HTK Architects, Topeka.  “Kids should experience creativity as they grow and evolve.  It shapes who they are and who they become,” said Chuck Smith, partner at HTK and the project architect and designer.  “Farley is a large facility and we needed to scale it down to the users with functional and creative designs that would help the children’s cognitive mapping process.  Materiality and colors played a big role in that.”

The Dri-Design panels interface with traditional masonry on the exterior.  A large, multi-colored Dri-Design panel “fin” marks the entrance to the school and extends into the main lobby area as a landmark to help with student wayfinding.

A variety of exterior panel systems were considered.  “But when we identified that we needed a solution that was affordable and that we could be creative with, that’s when we landed on Dri-Design,” according to Smith.  “There’s been a great reaction to the finished project from the kids, teachers and the community.  Everybody loves it.”