The Fahy Commons building at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, recently won three major sustainability awards.* ATAS International manufactured the 24-gauge steel 2” Field-Lok standing seam metal roof panels, 15-1/4” wide, for this building. A solar array consisting of 183 panels was installed over the Sandstone-colored metal roof panels.
Standing seam metal panels are the ideal choice for a rooftop solar system because of their long service life. When installing solar panels (typically warranted for 25 years of power generation), a building owner benefits from a roofing substrate that has a greater life expectancy than the solar panels. The solar panels can be installed to the metal panel seams using special clamps, without any roof penetrations.
Through a generous gift from Gerald P. Fahy (Muhlenberg College class of 1979) and Cathleen A. Fahy, this three-story building was made possible. The building opened in January of 2023 and features more than 22,000 square feet of student programming and academic space, including the Office of Community Engagement, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program, Makerspace, Institute of Public Opinion, Division of Graduate and Continuing Education, Religious & Spiritual Life, and the new art studios and classroom spaces.
Architect:
Re:Vision Architecture of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Installers:
Alan Kunsman Roofing & Siding, Inc. of Freemansburg, PA (Metal Roof Panels) and Endless Energy of Wilkes-Barre, PA (solar panels)
contractor:
Whiting Turner of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Roofing System Manufacturer:
ATAS International, Inc.
Roof Panels:
2” Field-Lok, 24 ga.
Coating:
Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings, 70% PVDF Sandstone
