Worried that wood wouldn’t be able to maintain its appearance or performance, the project team for a new Alabama Starbucks found Fiberon Wildwood composite cladding to be an ideal alternative. The product’s nature-inspired embossing and multi-tonal colors achieved an eye-catching modern aesthetic without sacrificing anything in terms of durability and performance.

CHALLENGE

For the design of a new 2,500-sq.-ft. Starbucks in Pell City, Alabama, the project team was interested in a dynamic, mixed-wood design for the building’s exterior cladding that would fit the upscale, modern design aesthetic that other businesses in the rapidly growing area had adopted. To achieve this, Birmingham-based Hendon & Huckestein Architects originally specified a natural wood product; but after reviewing a few samples, the design team wasn’t satisfied. Specifically, they worried that wood wouldn’t be able to maintain its appearance or performance after prolonged wind and UV exposure, and might also encounter problems with moisture.

It was fortuitous that a few days later, a member of the design team happened to drive by a local Panda Express restaurant with a similar look to what they hoped to achieve with the new Starbucks location. After doing more research, they learned it was Fiberon’s wood-plastic composite material that had given the restaurant its striking exterior aesthetic.

SOLUTION

The team discovered firsthand that Fiberon Wildwood composite cladding is perfect for architects and builders who want a long-lasting and sustainable alternative to traditional wood cladding. Its nature-inspired embossing and multi-tonal colors emulate the look of real wood, but without the maintenance or durability concerns that come with a wood cladding.

General Contractor Jonathan Seay, president of Seay Construction, Inc., was confident that Wildwood would achieve the desired modern wood panel aesthetic without sacrificing anything in terms of durability and performance. He worked with Fiberon to create a mockup comparing Wildwood against two to three competing products and presented it to the team, who was immediately blown away by Wildwood—initially impressed by both the similarities to wood and the durability of the product.

The fact that Wildwood is backed by a 50-year warranty covering stain, fade and performance didn’t hurt, either.

After a rigorous review process, the team selected Wildwood boards in both Mulga and Sumac colors—part of the Wildwood Sahara Collection, which draws inspiration from arid, sandy landscapes and includes rich desert tones.

“Not using a real wood product was appealing to us because no matter how well you install it, if the product is failing in a year or two, that makes us look bad,” Seay said.

“With Wildwood, once you properly install it, you never have to worry about it again.”

Despite this being his first experience working with the product, Seay was also impressed with how easy it was to install. “The instructions on how to install the cladding were fantastic, and it was easy to find the different elements that go with it. The ease of installation was very nice,” he said.

The fact that Wildwood was readily available was also a major selling point, Seay said. A competing composite material provider had quoted the team 12-16 weeks for delivery, which would have completely derailed the project schedule. The team had to find something they could get to the jobsite quickly.

“The store operator loves it—he gets compliments on the building all the time,” Seay said. “The Wildwood cladding sets the building apart. When the lighting shines on it at night, it really takes the spotlight.”