Cladding Corp is pleased to announce the opening of phase one of the UNM Cancer Research Center, the official Cancer Center of New Mexico, complete with an engineered rainscreen cladding solution by ALLFACE and Cladding Corp.  The $90 million, 206,000 square foot facility offers fully integrated, state-of-the-art cancer diagnosis and treatment with a specific focus on holistic patient care.  As one of the 60 preeminent National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated Cancer Centers and the leading oncology hospital in New Mexico, the UNM Center joins a growing list of healthcare facilities who are embracing the benefits of an energy-efficient rainscreen wall design.



Designed by Rohde May Keller McNamara Architecture (RMKM) of Albuquerque, NM, in collaboration with VOA Associates' office in Chicago, the Center's holistic outlook on wellness is not limited to patient facilities and services, as the design team considered the overall health of the new building in selecting a drained and back-ventilated rainscreen wall for their exterior wall design.  The new facility's design was influenced by New Mexico's diverse cultural heritage, including the Native American belief in the connection between the Earth and all life and the materials selected seek to complement and interplay with the surrounding landscape. 



Working alongside RMKM from the onset of the exterior cladding design, Cladding Corp was able to assist in the detailing and supply of the nearly 60,000 square feet of fiber cementitious panels on the project using an F2.11 System engineered by ALLFACE and Cladding Corp.   The desire for a system-based solution for both cladding panels and support structure enabled Cladding Corp to provide a rainscreen assembly for this project unlike many other panel suppliers who offer limited, panel-only solutions. Panel attachment was achieved using the face-fastened, visible rivet method and different finishes of the terracotta-colored panels were utilized intentionally to create an organic and varied facade.  Installed by Les File Drywall of Albuquerque, the installation was completed Summer 2009 and is part of a multi-phased plan which will link to other clinics and programs throughout New Mexico.  Formal dedication is scheduled for June 2010.