A community music school in a busy urban neighborhood required a new building for students to learn and perform. With a significant focus on eco-friendly building materials, as a non-profit they also required long term cost-effectiveness. Using Mataverde Ipe wood rainscreen siding, the design team achieved these goals - harmoniously.
Newly installed Ipe wood wraps the entire music building in custom rainscreen siding.
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Atwood @thisisatomicclock.com/photo
“What is that new wood building?"
Community MusicWorks , a music school in Providence, Rhode Island, needed their own expanded space to accommodate their growing student enrollment. Kyna Leski and Chris Brandt, principal architects at 3SIXØ, were asked to create an invigorating aesthetic and sustainability-driven project.
The completed exterior is a juggernaut example of how real Ipe wood rainscreen siding combines sustainability, strength, and beauty on a non-profit budget.
Standing in the heart of a historical district in urban Providence, Rhode Island, Kyna shared that it is constantly admired by passers-by, asking “What is that new wood building?"
But with stringent durability, sustainability and budget concerns, how did they get here? Mataverde spoke with the architects about their decision-making process and project criteria.
Students pose in front of the newly installed Ipe wood rainscreen siding at the new Community MusicWorks building. IG @communitymusicworks, courtesy of Sebastian Ruth
It's a beautiful building. Extraordinary exterior, very eye-catching. We wanted a sustainable, renewable resource, and we are in a historic district full of wood-clad houses. [ But its also on] a very a busy city corner so needed to be durable. The density of Ipe made it particular suitable"
- Sebastian Ruth, Founder and Artistic Director of Community MusicWorks
Why Mataverde Ipe Wood?
First, the school board and architectural team worked hand-in-hand on the design vision, prioritizing using healthy and green building materials throughout the building. This included the interior space and the award-winning green landscaping project outside.
Kyna shared how the aesthetic inspiration first took shape first in 2021, on the heels of the pandemic quarantine. The group advocated for natural materials, natural light, and large windows and doors that open. They wanted the students to be able to see and play outside, and the community would feel part of the school.
A real wood exterior was a natural next step. When selecting rainscreen material, a wide variety of wood species were considered. They debated color, investigated sustainability, and even tested their options for resistance to graffiti.
Sustaining and nourishing community means sustaining and thinking through the lifecycle, community, and environmental consequences of every material and product.”
- 3SIXØ architecture,
Community MusicWorks aerial view rendering by Jon Kletzien, courtesy of @3sixo.com
Ipe Wood Promises A Strong exterior
Ipe siding offered the school board a high return on investment potential plus continued sustainability for the school community.
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Sourced from sustainably harvested forests that follow certified responsible practices.
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Incredibly high resistance to moisture, rot, and mold, as well as insect damage, scratching and gouging.
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Exceptionally low and simple maintenance.
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Completely recyclable with a low environmental impact.
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Saves time, money, and labor costs, and avoids extra upkeep and replacement of damaged boards.
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Creates a warm and appealing aesthetic that welcomes students and neighbors.
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Gives a warm and appealing aesthetic to welcome students and neighbors
Ipe wood rainscreen siding shown newly installed on the music school, surrounding large glass windows and an open doorway. IG @communitymusicworks, courtesy Sebastian Ruth
A Uniquely Perfect Choice
Because the design team and school board had concerns about potential graffiti, they conducted their own tests for cleaning graffiti off the different wood siding materials they were considering. They discovered that Mataverde Ipe wood offered a unique benefit.
Ipe is the naturally highest density hardwood, resulting in very low porosity and excellent moisture resistance. Chris told us that Ipe's low absorption of the spray paint made cleaning it off much easier, which was a big advantage for them.
That, on top of all the beneficial characteristics of Ipe, made it an easy choice for the school exterior.
Climate-Shield Wood Rainscreen with Mataverde Ipe siding was the ideal solution because:
All their wood siding options were weighed on sustainability, budget limitations and durability. In the end result, Ipe rainscreen came out on top as meeting everything on the wish list, even the color.
"We wanted a sustainable, renewable resource" for the exterior, "and we are in a historic district full of wood-clad houses," explained Sebastian Ruth, founder and artistic director of Community MusicWorks.
Although there was a brief question about the Ipe natural wood tones! Kyna shared a funny anecdote about a Zoom call with the design team, where they were shown the Ipe wood sample over the video call. There were initial concerns from the board about the color of Ipe being "too dark”, so the architects promptly sent someone by car to bring the board members the sample of Ipe - right in the middle of the call! Once they saw it in, they were believers.
A detail of a typical Climate-Shield wood rainscreen installation using the patented rainscreen clips
Would you like to see what Ipe wood rainscreen siding can do for your project?
Order wood rainscreen samples today.
The Climate-Shield System shown mid-installation on the music school, photo by @PezzCon
The Climate-Shield Rainscreen System for a Healthy Exterior and Interior
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has strong rainscreen clips that are hidden from view in the exterior. This alleviated team concerns building exterior respecting the historical district it is in.
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is designed for efficient moisture management
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can extend the life cycle of the siding by increasing resistance to moisture, therefore extending sustainability.
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helps prevent mold and rot behind the siding
- well-designed for simple installation and design versatility for installing around windows and doors, on overhangs, soffits, and angles.
RELATED: Get inspired - Download The Wood Rainscreen Educational Project Portfolio here
Students and faculty celebrate the grand opening of the school, You can see where the Ipe wood rainscreen was used under the soffits of the overhang over the entrance and the second floor. IG @communitymusicworks, courtesy of Sebastian Ruth
A primary takeaway is becoming mindful of the lifecycle of every material. Asking questions like: how might this have been manufactured and where? What will be the lifespan of this material, and how would disposal or reuse work? This is a fundamental change from thinking primarily about what is affordable today and how something looks and works.”
- Sebastian Ruth, CMW’s Founder and Artistic Director,
in the @HealthyMaterials.org blog
Seeing is believing. Order wood rainscreen samples now.
The Positive Impact of the Completed Ipe Wood Rainscreen
Kyna described the natural variations in the completed exterior as looking “alive” and that it "kind of sparkles” in the sun.
"It's a beautiful building. Extraordinary exterior, very eye-catching, " Sebastian told us. And how are the students liking their new school?
"One student told me it's amazing. There's still an 'awe factor'," said Sebastion, "The students got comfortable quickly, its not like a museum but more approachable and accessible."
The large glass windows and doors set into the wood exterior let the performances spill out onto the street and Sebastian described it as a "playful" ambience, not formal.
The design team successfully achieved the building they dreamt of: sustainable, durable, welcoming, and beautiful. Chris Brandt was hopeful that the success and excellent aesthetic of this project may inspire others and promote sustainable building practices, proving that "a sustainable building does not have to be a luxury."
The wood façade reflects the school's commitment, its students and the community. The architects brilliantly chose Ipe wood siding to create a high-performance exterior that invites the neighborhood to be part of the experience. Like the Ipe rainscreen, we expect that Community MusicWorks will sustain and inspire students to play on for years to come.
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