Umicore Building Products Wins Three National Awards

Online, October 19, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Umicore Building Products USA received three national Metal Construction Association (MCA) Chairman's Awards this year for the exceptional use of metal in innovative architectural designs.

In the Residential category, Umicore Building Products (UBP) received the 2011 MCA Chairman's Award for Kristi and Bobby Walters' "GREENville House" in Greenville, North Carolina. Designed and built by Tonic Design + Construction of Raleigh, NC, the exterior cladding of this modern, thoroughly "green" house is a mix of brick veneer, vertical cedar panels, and VMZINC® architectural zinc. Metal Worx was the installer.

UBP received the MCA Chairman's Award in the Educational category for the Gateway Center at Westchester Community College In Valhalla, New York. Designed by Ennead Architects LLP of New York with Worth Construction as contractor, sustainable design strategies including the choice of materials: VMZINC, stone and glass. Barrett Roofing was the metal installer.

Finally, UBP received the MCA Chairman's Award for Municipal design for the Nebraska Public Power District's new Norfolk Operations Center in Norfolk, Nebraska. Designed by HDR, Inc., with J.E. Dunn Construction Co. as contractor, the LEED-Gold project utilizes UBP's patented Dri-Design® panels for 12,887 square feet of VMZINC's Anthra Zinc in addition to aluminum and copper. SGH, Inc., was the metal installer.

The Chairman's Awards are an annual designation given to outstanding building projects involving MCA member companies. The awards honor innovation and creativity while showcasing how metal products contribute to exceptional building designs.

"We are honored to receive three awards from the MCA this year," said Dan Nicely, Director of Market Development UBP. "And we are proud to be associated with such great projects by incredible architects such as HDR, Ennead, and Tonic."

The award ceremony took place on Tuesday, October 11, during this year's METALCON International convention in Atlanta. Pierre Van de Bruaene, Umicore's Corporate Senior Vice President for the building products division, Norbert Schneider, President of Umicore Building Products North America, and Dan Nicely received the award.

For more information on Umicore Building Products and VMZINC, visit www.vmzinc-us.com. For more information on the Metal Construction Association and the MCA Chairman's Awards, go to www.metalconstruction.org.

About Umicore Building Products USA, Inc.

Umicore is a world-leading producer of architectural zinc. For over 160 years Umicore has been providing innovative solutions for building owners, architects and contractors. Umicore has offices and representatives all over the world. In the United States, Umicore Building Products USA, Inc., is based in Raleigh, NC. For additional information, visit www.vmzinc-us.com.