Photography by Chase Daniel for ALPOLIC
The Moody Center, a $375 million multipurpose arena in Austin, Texas, has been a revelation for the University of Texas and the local music scene. A cooperative venture led by LA-based Oak View Group, the Gensler-designed project has been a celebrated success, winning awards in design, entertainment, and sustainability. The state-of-the-art 530,000 square-foot venue is the new home of the UT Longhorns basketball team and the 15,000-seat arena also hosts live entertainment, including this year’s CMT Music Awards.
Warm wood tones and crisp metal paneling formed into curves and staggering levels create a sense of movement around the facility. The building’s exterior façade features a large expanse of glass, Which encourages natural light and a sense of connection with the downtown Austin cityscape. The Moody Center features 67,000 square feet of ALPOLIC/fr metal composite materials finished in three custom shades of dark bronze. KSC fabricated and installed the ALPOLIC MCM that features prominently on the venue’s southwest gate and the fascia of the arena’s eye-catching roof.
The striking fin sunshades help reduce direct solar exposure and assist in energy performance in this LEED Gold-certified project. In a feat of clever engineering, the attachment system for the fins is partially hidden by the MCM paneling. It’s a design that requires precision and expertise only possible by established fabricators like KSC, who were called in early for design assistance.
“The challenge there was we had to come up with a way to mount those fins behind the MCM panels,” explains Vince Neault, business development manager at KSC. “So we designed a unique U-shaped mounting bracket that had to be positioned exactly between the joints to coincide with the width of the panels.” KSC laser-scanned the building throughout the construction process and maintained a remarkably precise tolerance level of plus or minus 1/32 of an inch. “That was critical. That whole process was very very tricky,” saod Neault.
The fabricator was further challenged with a hard deadline. The entertainment venue had started to book shows before construction was completed and KSC ran 24/7, in multiple shifts, to get MCM panels fabricated and in place before the first concert. “We went in with a commitment. The blood that flows in our veins is what gets it done,” said Neault.
For Neault, having the right people and the right technology is important, and so is having have the right product. At KSC, ALPOLIC metal composite materials are the first choice. An industry veteran, Neault says, “In all my years in metal panels, I've had zero failures with all ALPOLIC. With these very critical projects, we don't go anywhere else. It's that simple. The product line is tremendous. And the service is great.”
High-profile entertainment facilities like the Moody Center require safe and durable materials to maintain their appearance for years. With an industry-leading warranty, ALPOLIC stands behind its product like no other, providing a beautiful look that lasts.
Request samples today and let ALPOLIC MCM inspire your next design.
