Northwestern's DeWitt Family Science Center
Kynar 500® PVDF
Coating made with Kynar 500® FSF® PVDF chosen for the façade of the center to create a cohesive look with the brick tones of the surrounding buildings. The Fluropon® coatings provide outstanding resistance and durability to the different weather conditions of Iowa. The finish will uphold its integrity for years to come.
Completed in 2019, this eco-friendly and state-of-the-art 61,000 square-foot facility creates a grand entrance to the campus of Northwestern College. It serves the health science programs including biology, chemistry and the now on-campus nursing department.
Throughout the three-story building are classrooms, research labs, human patient simulators, faculty offices and a 960 square-foot greenhouse. It’s equipped with a DNA sequencer, making Northwestern one of only two institutions in Iowa with the scientific instrument.
When choosing the material used on the exterior, the architects kept in mind that most of Northwestern’s buildings are brick. However, the science center was designed to be a modern facility setting the tone for Northwestern’s future. In addition to this, the building’s main focal feature is a cantilever, which provides an amazing view of the campus, and called for a low-weight material. Thus, coated metal was chosen.
The building is brought to life with Americlad Quality Metalcrafts LLC’s AC-4000 flat lock panels. The panels were coated in 3 custom hues of Fluropon® coil coatings from Sherwin-Williams® made with Kynar 500® FSF® PVDF – Expresso, Hedgehog and English Brown – and its AC-4000 glaze-in infill panels in a champagne metallic. These were selected to create a cohesive look with the brick tones found in the other buildings on Northwestern’s campus. The panels were wrapped around one another and applied in a randomized pattern to add depth to the long expanses of the façade.
The custom colors were chosen based on their ability to blend with the color of brick as well as offering a solution that was easy on the budget. In addition, the Fluropon® coatings provide outstanding resistance and durability to the different weather conditions of Iowa. The Fluropon® finish will uphold its integrity for years to come.
Useful information
Kynar 500® and FSF® are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.
Fluropon® is registered trademark of Sherwin-Williams Company.
Content and images provided by Sherwin-Williams and used with permission.