Design Assistance
King Abdullah Academy
King Abdullah Academy
King Abdullah Academy is an urban school with an exterior façade that reflects the colors of the Arabian Desert landscape and its design is evocative of Arabic culture and architectural traditions.
The primary façade material is precast concrete panels with aluminum windows, curtain walls and prefinished metal panels. Using precast concrete allowed the architects to create an exterior aesthetic that is simultaneously modern and inviting, while also expressing the unique multi-cultural heritage of the student body it serves.
The architects took full advantage of the design flexibility inherent in precast concrete to incorporate many references to Arabic culture into the façade design. In place of a traditional cornice, an agal band was used at the top of each story to tie various parts of the building together.
Using precast concrete panels allowed the building to be erected quickly, which allowed the contractor to enclose the building more quickly. Additionally, the versatility of precast concrete allowed the design team to meet the owner’s design goals while providing an extremely durable, long-lasting, low-maintenance facility. The monolithic nature of the large precast panels resulted in fewer joints in the exterior walls, which limits long-term exposure to moisture penetration.
Precast concrete provided a cost-effective, custom design that provided many practical benefits for the design team as well as provided long-term benefits for the owner. Its design flexibility met the owner’s goals for the project and created a welcoming structure for a broad variety of students from many cultures.
AWARDS
LOCATION
Herndon, VA
ARCHITECT
Bowie Gridley Architects