In search of an alternative to concrete, Span Construction & Engineering turned to metal panel manufacturer Kingspan Insulated Panels, Inc. The cost, insulation value, and ease of installation of Kingspan API Granitstone® panels persuaded the California company and one of its clients to switch to insulated metal panels. Kingspan API, located in Modesto, CA, manufactures the 300 GS panels, which combines the advantages of light-weight metal panels with the architectural appearance of sprayed stucco, creating a high-strength, factory-finished building product. Kingspan also offers Granitstone Quartz to complement existing stucco texture with a deeper, heavier natural stone finish.

In nearby Madera, CA, Span Construction & Engineering collaborates with architectural clients to create cost-effective, high-quality buildings and has previously done business with Kingspan API. King Husein, Engineer and President of Span Construction, coordinated an educational seminar in Seattle and invited Kingspan API to introduce architects to the 300 GS panels.

Insulated metal panels (IMPs), like the 300 GS, create a building envelope that ensures high performance, lower costs and minimal maintenance. IMPs have the highest insulating value per inch of all exterior building materials, which can significantly lower energy and operating costs. Since IMPs are lightweight, they can easily be installed with forklifts or a simple pulley system to save on construction costs. The aesthetically-pleasing Granitstone or Quartz finish provides an additional layer of weather resistance.

Washington-based MulvannyG2 Architecture, a Span Construction client of 27 years, acted on Husein’s recommendation and started specifying Granitstone IMPs for all its Costco projects.

“The lower cost is one of the main reasons we decided to switch – Kingspan Granitstone panels cost roughly half as much as concrete blocks,” explains David Spangler, a MulvannyG2 architect and seminar attendee. “We didn’t want the Costco buildings to look like metal warehouses, but the 300 GS panels combine the benefits of IMPs and the desired aesthetic of concrete.”

Since the switch, the 300 GS panels have been installed on five Costco buildings, averaging 30,000-40,000 square feet of Kingspan API panels per facility. The 300 GS panels have also been specified for at least half a dozen upcoming Costco projects across the U.S. and Canada.

Spangler adds, “Whenever one of our client’s projects requires concrete blocks, we present Granitstone as a cost-effective alternative.” Sharing Spangler’s sentiment, Husein concludes, “We’re definitely satisfied with the product switch and will continue to recommend Granitstone to our clients.”

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