“Fight, devils down the field, fight with your might and don’t ever yield,” is the start of “Maroon and Gold,” the fight song for Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe. The fight song, expressing the heart of the university, is integral to school pride. It, therefore, was fitting for architect Allen + Philp Partners, Scottsdale, Ariz., to include the notes of the fight song on the new Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown that is across the street from ASU. The notes are expressed in a specific design layout and the colors of the metal wall panel façade, specifically the StoPanel® Classic NExT ci and StoPanel® Dri-Design.

Kapture Prefab, Tempe, Ariz., installed 33,104 square feet of StoPanel® Classic NExT ci and StoPanel® Dri-Design. The project uses 11 colors: University Gray, Silver Polish, Autumn Orange, Boat Anchor, Driftwood Gray, Pumpkin Blush, Golden Harvest, Holland Gray, Jack O'Lantern, Millwood Gray and Porpoise. The panels are part of a partnership between Dri-Design and StoPanel Technology to create a unique non-composite pressure-equalized rainscreen, architectural metal wall system.  

“The partnership that we created in 2018 with StoPanel Technology has brought about quality pre-fabricated assemblies,” says Tyler Fowler, National Sales Director at Dri-Design. “This standardized system is anything but standard because of the design goals and quality installation at Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown. Creating a fight song in a metal panel layout is really a wow moment in my career.”

Kapture Prefab was challenged in this project by the tight schedule and completing a project surrounding by existing buildings, including one adjacent structure just 3 feet away. The campus also remained active during construction. A tower crane and controlled tag lines allowed the job to safely progress. 

The 14-story hotel has 200 guest rooms. It connects to a tower of Union Tempe, a mixed-use structure with high-rise apartments and retail space. The hotel has a contemporary Southwest vibe with Mid-Century features and art-filled spaces. 

For more information about the Dri-Design, visit www.dri-design.com.