No one wants to hear the word “failure” except when it presents a prospect for improvement. Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort’s Hotel in Jackson, Calif., had a failing Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) on its façade and seized the opportunity for a design and functionality revamp.
The best cladding replacement option was Dri-Design wall panels for their appearance, performance, fire resistance and weatherability. Three Dri-Design systems—Shadow Series, Perforated Panels and Perforated Imaging Panels—were installed on the casino’s main hotel, arcade building and pedestrian bridge.
JAX Kneppers Associates Inc., Walnut Creek, Calif., took its design cues from a recent partial interior renovation, which added an Earth-tone color scheme and modern finishes. The design team was asked to carry this updated concept to the exterior. The designers explored several material options to meet this request, and they determined the goals of fire and weather resistance along with curb appeal could best be met with metal wall panels. Dri-Design was selected for its custom solutions and diverse product offerings.
“We considered multiple metal panel options, including composite, but ultimately Dri-Design single-skin aluminum panels provided the best combination of rainscreen weather resistance, fire resistance and design options,” says Jacob J. Welhouse, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, with JAX Kneppers Associates.
“We utilized the multiple depths of the Shadow Series to create the appearance of pilasters and add relief to an otherwise flat building facade. All of these aesthetic improvements to the facade were possible with the metal panels while preserving a flat, continuous weather-resistive barrier and drainage plane behind,” Welhouse says.
The depth of the Shadow Series was used to conceal the unsightly PTAC air-conditioning units that typically can be seen protruding from hotel rooms. The units also can present a waterproofing challenge, but not in this case. “By using metal panels over a robust rainscreen wall assembly, we were able to conceal an aesthetic issue and significantly improve the weathertightness of the entire structure,” Welhouse adds.
