Apollo Development Corporation Riverpoint Center

Architect

Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects
Las Vegas, Nevada

General Contractor

Sundt
Phoenix, Arizona

Sheet Metal Contractor

Kovach Inc.
Phoenix, Arizona

Owner

Apollo Group Inc.
Phoenix, Arizona

The Apollo Development Corporation Riverpoint Center in Phoenix, AZ, was originally designed to maximize the buildable area on the site while still providing ample public space for social interaction. These new buildings for the University of Phoenix sit on a 37-acre site that features structures that look as though they belong in the desert. The overall design concepts pay tribute to the region while showcasing the Apollo Group as a corporation designed to meet the needs of the future and a model for the 21st century education. The design is also environmentally responsive.

Three types of copper panels were used for the facade, which include vertical standing seam, vertical flat seam and horizontal flat seam. The vertical standing seam panel and vertical flat seamed panel were used in the expression of the 10-story building "wrapper" element. The flat panels were used at the soffit and sill conditions while the vertical standing seam panels were used to accentuate the verticality of the building facades. The flat horizontal panel was used on the 6-story buildings providing a simpler expression complementing but not competing with the iconic form of the adjacent 10-story anchor building.

The design team wanted to make sure that the project used materials that were durable, low maintenance, sustainable and from the region. Copper, being a native material to Arizona, was a driving factor in its use. Its natural look and patina work beautifully with its surrounding desert landscape. The copper is also a very striking material that enhances the iconic quality of the building resulting in a strong identity.

Architectural Categories: Flat Seam Roofs and Walls, Standing Seam Roofs and Walls, Horizontal Seam Roofs and Walls