Contact Industries Western Red Cedar wrapped custom aluminum metal soffit, provides the look of wood, but with the higher fire rating of aluminum.

PORTLAND, OR -- Contact Industries, a manufacturer of customized wood products, recently supplied veneer wrapped soffits for the University of California Berkeley’s new bio science building, Stanley Hall. According to Contact, the architect and designer wanted the aesthetic look of cedar but could not use solid wood and still meet the necessary fire codes. The company’s solution was a Western Red Cedar wrapped custom aluminum metal soffit, which provided the look of wood, but the higher fire rating of aluminum. 

“Stanley Hall’s soffits are a perfect example of where our company is headed,” said Peter McKibbin, vice president of Contact Industries. “This was a custom product we had never created before, but when presented with the opportunity,  we accepted the challenge, and ended up with a new product, an innovative solution and ultimately, a win/win for all involved.”

The exterior materials of the new building will also include Sierra granite and copper, materials used on other classical buildings on the UC Berkeley campus such as the Hearst Memorial Mining Building and Doe Library. The eight-story building measures approximately 285,000 gross square feet.