Wayne State University School of Medicine

The Wayne State University School of Medicine’s new Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences medical office building in Detroit was designed to create “visual impact” at its high-profile location along Interstate 75.  The building is also near the Detroit Medical Center which houses the School of Medicine’s primary facilities.

Approximately 21,000 sq. ft. of Dri-Design panels using two different materials were used to clad the 63,000 sq. ft. structure.

The majority of the Dri-Design panels were fabricated using 1mm VMZINC® ANTHRA-ZINC.  In addition, a limited number of panels use .080” aluminum finished in Clear Anodic and Ceiling Bright White.

 “We like to work with a rainscreen system,” according to project designer Mike Decoster with Hamilton Anderson Associates, Detroit.   “There are a lot of forces moving exterior wall design in that direction, especially with energy efficiency and other exterior envelope considerations.”

Design for the building was conceived as being a simple, well-proportioned form executed with high quality materials.  “The material selection became a critical decision for the building,” Decoster said.  “The zinc cladding was chosen to help meet our design objectives.  The black zinc and the aluminum trim serves as a foil to the adjacent stainless steel Detroit Receiving Hospital.”

“The zinc panels look terrific,” Decoster said.  “We’ve had a very positive reaction to the finished job.”

The dean of the WSU School of Medicine concurs.  “With this building, our Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences has a new, state-of-the-art home, with a physical presence on the campus of the medical school and on Midtown’s medical campus,” said Valerie M. Parisi, M.D.  “This is a beautiful edifice that further complements the growing Midtown area and adds to the revitalization of Detroit.”

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