Michelle Obama STEM Elementary Academy, Hampton, Ga.
RETROFIT TEAM
ARCHITECT: J.W. Robinson & Associates
METAL PANEL INSTALLER: ABUCK
METAL PANEL DEALER: Architectural MetalReps LLC
MATERIALS
Designers knew they needed an external cladding that would give the existing 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.
At 170,000 square feet, Michelle Obama STEM Elementary Academy, or 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.
Crews installed CF Light Mesa in Regal Blue and Igloo White for the façade. Light Mesa is a light-profile insulated metal panel designed for use in applications where energy efficiency is paramount.
INSULATED METAL PANELS: Metl-Span
THE RETROFIT
When the Atlanta area’s Clayton County Public Schools undertook renovations to what was the Eddie J. White Academy, representatives 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 who has embraced education as one of her cornerstone initiatives.
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.
Michelle Obama STEM Elementary Academy opened its doors to students at the start of the 2020-21 school year.
PHOTOS: Metl-Span