The Putnam City Centennial Center was designed to be more than just a meeting space; it's a community hub that brings people together. Designed with input from the school district superintendent, the vision was clear: create a warm, inviting building that felt mid-century in style and welcoming in spirit, rather than a traditional, sterile administrative facility.
At the heart of this flexibility and design vision are the Skyfold® walls, which offer both functionality and a "wow" factor for visitors.
Project Overview
The Skyfold walls for this project are located in the pre-function and meeting room areas of the Centennial Center. Two Skyfold Zenith® walls were installed to divide the large meeting room into three separate, acoustically private spaces, while three Skyfold Mirage® walls can close off the pre-function area from the meeting rooms when needed.
This combination enables the facility to easily adapt to a variety of uses, ranging from district meetings and community events to private gatherings without compromising sound isolation or aesthetic appeal.
How Skyfold Became Part of the Vision
Interestingly, the journey to choosing Skyfold began long before the project broke ground. The architectural team had first discovered Skyfold in a trade and product magazine. Inspired by the innovative vertical stacking design that saves valuable floor space, they tore out the page and taped it to their "idea wall" for future projects.
When designing the Centennial Center, they knew exactly what they wanted: a flexible, visually striking, and space-efficient wall system. Skyfold fit that vision perfectly.
After the architects integrated Skyfold into the design, the contractor reached out for pricing and collaboration, and together, the team brought the concept to life.
Overcoming Design Challenges
Traditional horizontally stacking operable walls can take up significant floor space and often require oversized structural steel to achieve high sound ratings. By specifying Skyfold, the team overcame these challenges.
The Skyfold walls stack vertically into the open ceiling, with no wall pockets, no lost floor area, and no compromise on acoustics. In fact, these exposed Skyfold walls have become a true conversation piece, often catching visitors' attention the moment they walk into the space.
A Space That Works for Everyone
Since the building's opening, the feedback from the district and end users has been overwhelmingly positive. The Skyfold walls deliver the acoustic performance they hoped for. Meeting participants have commented that they can't hear conversations from adjacent rooms, and everyone loves how seamlessly the walls fold up into the ceiling.
The owners have been so pleased that they've given Best Companies permission to showcase the Skyfold installations to other architects at any time. It's a project that continues to inspire and demonstrate what's possible when thoughtful design meets cutting-edge technology.
The Result
The Putnam City Centennial Center stands as a testament to what can happen when innovation and collaboration come together. The use of Skyfold walls has not only met the client's functional needs but has also added a dynamic visual element to a building meant to serve and inspire its community for years to come.