Hmong College Prep Academy’s (HCPA) mission is to provide the best integrated, most challenging, and well-rounded educational experience to students in grades K-12. Located in St. Paul, Minnesota, HCPA is a charter school that retrofitted a former health club into an educational facility. Metal products from CENTRIA played a key role in the exterior design of the 78,300 sq. ft. academy.

As their needs grew, HCPA needed to remodel the unused and under-utilized spaces of the charter school over three carefully planned phases. Classrooms were created, storage and workout spaces were added to the gym and the existing high school was remodeled. The completed project included classrooms, offices, two gymnasiums, lunchroom, technology lab, library, and a state-of-the-art performing arts theater with seating for nearly 500 people.

Further supporting academic and community interests, the school earned LEED® certification through the U.S. Green Building Council to make tangible the good stewardship practices Hmong College Prep Academy promotes daily in the classroom.

For its efforts, Hmong College Prep Academy received a positive “Review and Comment” statement from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) regarding the new construction.

The architects for this project specified CENTRIA products because of their durability, sustainability, aesthetics and economic advantages. Profile Series makes inspiring designs come to life with highly aesthetic, high performance panels.

CENTRIA’s Exposed Fastener Panels are cost-effective, single-skin metal panels that make it possible for designers to achieve a wide variety of innovative aesthetics. The product has a wide panel width for quick installation and works well for both new construction and retrofit projects. The panels may be insulated to add an additional level of thermal protection. Plus, exposed fastener panels provide flexibility as they can be used for exterior or interior walls, roofs or soffits.

The sleek and innovative aesthetics of CENTRIA’s panels were an integral part of the architect’s vision, contributing to the beautiful façade of the building. EcoScreen Perforated Screenwall panels not only integrate with the other CENTRIA panels used, but also provide an airy aesthetic to blend the building into its surroundings.

The architect was Kodet Architectural Group, Ltd. of Minneapolis, MN. The general contractor was RJM Construction of Minneapolis, MN. The CENTRIA products dealer/installer was MG McGrath of Maplewood, MN