Xorel Meteor Gives a Revered Academic Building a Colorful Renovation
Design Team: DRS Architects, Associate Architect
Location: University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and Dental Medicine
Market: Education
Product: Xorel Meteor
End Use: Wallcovering, Acoustic Panels
Design Solution
Xorel allowed the client to develop an effective wayfinding system by confidently infusing public areas like lobbies and elevator bays with rich, deep colors, knowing that Xorel Meteor would both remain beautiful and hold up to rigorous daily use by students, faculty and administration.
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and Dental Medicine used Xorel Meteor in the renovation of Salk Main Hall as a wayfinding tool for common spaces and circulation, and to infuse color into its academic and training areas.
Originally constructed in 1941, the goals of the renovation intially focused on infrastructure upgrades; however, it quickly became clear that the building's layout and circulation no longer supported the academic programs. A decision was made to approach the project as a full renovation, ensuring that the school's physical environment reflected the level of acclaimed academics for which it was known.
Xorel Meteor Meets the Goals
Xorel met the aesthetic, performance, and sustainability goals the project was striving to achieve. With seven floors included in the renovation, differentiating the floors while creating a unified image for the school was of paramount importance.
Xorel Meteor was installed in classrooms and conference rooms as an acoustical panel wrap to bring color and pattern into the spaces while improving their acoustical properties. The conference rooms required a more neutral palette which was easily accomplished within the Meteor line. All product selections were made with sustainability in mind. The project was seeking LEED Gold certification, and Xorel helped to contribute to the process with the project ultimately surpassing its goal and achieving LEED Platinum V3.
Our Local Carnegie sales rep, Susan Wonsock, has always made working with Carnegie easy. She's knowledgable about the product lines and their versatile applications while making sure we understand exactly what is needed in each situation, and that we apply the most appropriate products to every surface.
-Tobie Nepo, Principal, DRS Architects
