Academic and Athletic Hub
Located on the south side of the Howard Community College campus in Columbia, Maryland, the Kahlert Foundation Complex brings together academic inquiry and athletic excellence under one roof in a striking 193,000 sq ft, four-story structure. As the partner for the facade system, our team supplied the exterior envelope using our GateLite® unitized lightweight system — an integrated, high-performance solution that supports the client’s sustainability goals and campus identity.
From the earliest design-assist phase, we collaborated closely with the design team to refine panel layouts, connection strategies, and color and texture options, ensuring the precast facade achieved both aesthetic intent and thermal performance requirements. The panels feature vertical and horizontal ribs, giving the facade a dynamic rhythm and depth while enhancing structural efficiency. Across the project we delivered a seamless workflow: off-site manufacturing of the unitized panels, coordination with other teams, and on-site panel installation to ensure quality and schedule alignment.
Sustainability was a key priority. The GateLite system uses significantly less material than traditional precast wall assemblies, reducing embodied carbon and contributing to lower operational energy loads. By combining high thermal performance insulation and controlled off-site manufacturing, we helped the building enclosure perform at a higher level while reducing on-site waste and labor. On a project whose architecture emphasizes transparency, daylight, and flexible learning and athletic spaces, our precast solution supports a vision of openness and connection with the built community.
More than just delivering panels, we contributed as a true team member — guiding design decisions, coordinating logistics, aligning schedule milestones, and ensuring the precast enclosure integrated seamlessly with the academic labs, study lounges, and competitive gymnasium spaces within. The result is a landmark facility that stands as a gateway for the campus — elevating expectations for design, performance, and durability in higher-education and athletics buildings alike.
Through collaboration and ingenuity, we helped the client achieve a vision without compromise: a facility ready to support current and future generations of learners and athletes alike.
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