Community Center

330 m2 of Ductal® panels were installed. Each Ductal® panel has around 300 round perforations, therefore functions as a shade screen by filtering the sunlight. The mineral look of Ductal® also played a primary role in integrating the building with its environment. Grey-blue in colour, the perforated panels produce a subtle light and shadow effect inside during the day, and outside at night as well, due to the floodlight installed between the panels and glazing.The panels are 4 m high, 2 m wide and only 5 cm thick.

Only one mould was used to pour all the panels because they are identical, but a second mould was required for door trim. A silicone mould was used to simplify demoulding problems. The superior fluidity of Ductal® allowed quick and easy pouring. Each panel has round perforations up to 6.5 cm in diameter. An assembly sketch of the perforations in each panel was required to verify its correct structural resistance.

The panels rest on bottom mounted stainless steel omega clips that support the total weight of the panel. The top mount, a double bracket system, absorbs horizontal stress, guarantees panel plumbness and facilitates freedom of vertical movement for thermal expansion. Mounting a cantilever on the concrete wall and a bracket to the panel was sometimes necessary to permit insertion of floodlights and access to clean the glazing.