Marking its first construction project since 1980, the Dekalb County Jail serving Dekalb County, IL, was modernized and aesthetically enhanced with CENTRIA Formawall® insulated metal panels. CENTRIA’s products were also successful in meeting specific design criteria outlined by Dewberry, the firm responsible for the building design.

“CENTRIA was one of the only manufacturers that had a horizontal metal panel product that could meet our tight radius requirements,” says Brian Meade, Principal and Design Director with Dewberry. “The horizontal metal panels were used on both end stair towers, as well as on the top floor north elevation and around the mechanical penthouse.”

Approximately 3,200 square feet of Formawall Dimension Series horizontal panels in Limestone and 1,800 square feet of the same system in Champagne Pearl were used on the building façade. Formawall curved vertical panels were also specified in Champagne Pearl for the corners of the high-performance façade.

“CENTRIA was also one of the only manufacturers that provide a smooth finish to their panels, which is what we wanted,” Meade says. “CENTRIA metal panels added the modern quality we were looking for to complement the concrete and brick panels. Additionally, the nearly symmetrical building design has two switchback stair towers at each end with rounded landings.  The exterior wall radius was too tight for many materials such as precast concrete panels, brick, or even many other horizontal metal panel products.”

Formawall’s foam insulation formula contains zero halogens with improved fire safety performance and also provides advanced thermal efficiency and moisture control in a single component. The Dimension Series flat panels provide outstanding aesthetics and value, along with maximum thermal performance and moisture control.

Meade says the team also “appreciated the flexibility and options CENTRIA’s product provides in terms of shapes and finishes.”

The $35 million expansion of the Dekalb County Jail was completed in November 2017, and the building was dedicated in May 2018. The contractor was Gilbane and the installer was Metalmaster Roofmaster. The CENTRIA dealer was G&L Associates, Inc.