Innovative Design Meets Modern Education: Emil & Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center

The Emil & Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center in Winchester, VA, is a cutting-edge educational facility designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning. This state-of-the-art center is part of Winchester Public Schools’ commitment to providing students with modern, career-focused learning environments that bridge the gap between education and industry.

A Vision for the Future
The Innovation Center, a collaborative effort between VMDO and Reader + Swartz Architects, transforms a former high school building into a dynamic space where students can gain real-world experience in various career and technical education programs.

With specialized labs, collaboration areas, and advanced resources, the facility is built to inspire the next generation of skilled professionals.

Swisspearl Panels: The Ideal Facade Solution
A key feature of the Innovation Center’s modern design is its striking exterior, achieved through the use of a variety of colors from Swisspearl's CARAT product line. The Swisspearl CARAT collection offers 20 different through-color panels that feature either a translucent or pigmented top layer.  The unique, natural look and timeless beauty of the monolithic material has a delicate vein texture which provides an exciting and noble expression to buildings.

The CARAT Series offers a range of benefits that make it the perfect air-cured fiber cement product choice for this forward-thinking educational facility:
 

• Durability & Longevity – Made from high-quality fiber cement, Swisspearl CARAT panels provide exceptional resistance to weather, UV exposure, and impact, ensuring a long-lasting facade with minimal maintenance.
• Sustainability – The panels are crafted using environmentally responsible materials and manufacturing processes, supporting the project’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.
• Design Flexibility – Swisspearl offers a broad selection of colors and finishes, allowing architects to create visually appealing exteriors that complement the Innovation Center’s modern aesthetic.
• Ventilated Rainscreen System – Swisspearl panels are installed as part of a drained and back-ventilated rainscreen system, improving the building’s thermal performance and moisture control while reducing energy costs.
• Fire Resistance – With stringent fire safety standards, Swisspearl panels contribute to the overall fire safety and resilience of the building’s exterior.

Engineered Cladding Support System
At the heart of its high-performance facade stands the ECO Cladding Alpha Hci.10 System – an economical, adjustable subframing system engineered for fiber cement, HPL, and various panel cladding applications. This system guarantees durability, structural flexibility, and energy efficiency, rendering it pivotal in ensuring the facade's long-term performance.

A Model for Future Learning Spaces
The Emil & Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center is more than just a school building - it is a blueprint for the future of education. By integrating advanced construction materials like Swisspearl CARAT fiber cement panels, the project not only achieves an architectural statement but also delivers a high-performance, sustainable, and low-maintenance solution that will serve students for generations to come.

Eager to learn more? Download the CARAT Series color overview here.  Or check out our Project Overview Highlight.

For more details on how Swisspearl panels can enhance your next project, visit Fiber Cement Rainscreens.