Metl-Span Façade for New Atlanta School Becomes Lesson Plan in Design

Forward-Looking Academy Bears Former First Lady’s Name

When the Atlanta area’s Clayton County Public Schools undertook renovations to what was the Eddie J. White Academy, they sought to open a new chapter for elementary school education in the district, one that stretched beyond reading, writing, and arithmetic. To honor that commitment, they named the facility after a former First Lady of the United States who has embraced education as one of her cornerstone initiatives.  

Michelle Obama STEM Elementary Academy (MOSEA) is home to more than 1,000 students pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. Its mission is to not only have students excel in core academic areas, but also in art, music, computer science, physical education, and STEM exploration.

Designers knew they needed an external cladding that would give the structure a modern, forward-looking appearance. They also sought something that would drive energy efficiency and keep students, staff, and faculty comfortable in the hot Georgia climate.

Therefore, Metl-Span IMPS were chosen, making their vision a reality.

Today’s Lesson: Beauty and Functionality

At 170,000 square feet, MOSEA features approximately 75 classrooms, several technology and STEM labs, an engineering lab, outdoor classroom spaces, and a solar panel array for educational purposes. The school consists of multiple wings, and designers envisioned a custom color scheme for the exterior cladding to give the building a signature look.

The chosen material for the façade also needed to be engineered in such a way that it would stand the test of time.

“The important part of this selection was being able to meet the desired design, but also choosing material that wouldn’t require frequent maintenance,” said Michael Moore, President of Architectural MetalReps LLC. “Metl-Span was able to deliver on both fronts of longevity with custom colors and profiles.”

Crews installed CF Light Mesa in Regal Blue and Igloo White for the façade. Light Mesa is an industry-leading, light profile insulated metal panel designed for use in applications where energy efficiency is paramount. Well suited for exterior and interior walls for commercial and industrial applications, the insulated metal panel utilizes concealed clips to eliminate thermal short circuits. CF Light Mesa also has a flat, shallow, pronounced profile for an easily washable surface.

“Metl-Span took this design from the architectural phase all the way to completion, which was unique”, said Moore. “This design actually turned out so well that it is being considered as a prototype for more primary schools south of Atlanta.”

Ring the School Bell

Michelle Obama STEM Elementary Academy opened its doors to students at the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

Metl-Span is a NUCOR® company. (NYSE: NUE ); delivering high-quality, durable and energy-efficient insulated metal panels designed for unparalleled performance to stand the test of time.