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.”