Fiber Cement

Fiber Cement Panels
Preferred Partners: 

Material Overview:

Architects, installers and owners now have the premier fiber cement panel from Swisspearl®, combined with a fully engineered rainscreen system of ECO Cladding.  As a perferred partner, Swisspearl's ® quality fiber cement panels set the industry standard in unique, natural and timeless beauty.  ECO Cladding engineered systems give architects and installers the needed resources to design intelligent rainscreen walls that address deep cavity systems, continuous insulation and other code and industry standards.  ECO Cladding systems are also designed to give architects aesthetic freedom to incorporate concealed, lap-siding or visible attachments.

Design Considerations:

Fiber Cement is produced in sheets and fabricated into finished panels.  The designer has the ability to create varying degrees of patterns and panel shapes on the building - often using numerous colors to create intrigue and acheive a particular design aesthetic.  Most fiber cement panels are consistent in color range from panel to panel.  Air cured fiber cement is preferred for rainscreen applications and auto-claved panels are not recommedended for rainscreen wall conditions.  Off–fall of material is a key fabrication consideration, so as to maximize the panel’s yield.  Swisspearl® is the leading fiber cement manufacturer for architectural grade panels and offers a variety of large sheet sizes and a full range of medium and shingle panels.  Both concealed and exposed, color-matched rivet systems are available.

Libbie Mill Library - Richmond, VA

Quinn Evans (BCWH) Architects has a reputation for designing cutting-edge library spaces and Libbie Mill Library in Richmond, Virginia is truly a fine example of their work! The building showcases a host of multiple rainscreen materials, integrated into a seamless drained and back-ventilated rainscreen facade. Terracotta, fiber cement, and fiber concrete cladding products were incorporated to create this public community anchor building. The library was one of the first buildings completed and has led to the growth of the area of Richmond suburb. Large fabricated Swisspearl® fiber cement panels were installed using ECO Cladding's concealed Alpha Vci.40 attachment system.

For a project feature by the architect click here.

Gaige Hall - Rhode Island College - Providence, RI

LLB Architects were tasked with adding function and design to Gaige Hall on the campus of Rhode Island College. The renovation required reorganizing departments and classrooms in order to provide a more collaborative setting. The center of the building also received a brand new entrance area that incorporated Swisspearl® panels on the interior. An ECO Cladding Alpha Hci.10 exposed fastening attachment system was used along with large format panels which added a wonderful backdrop to the building. Swisspearl® panels were also used to screen HVAC systems on the rooftop.

For a project feature by the architect click here.

Roche Diagnostics - Fishers, IN

Roche Diagnostics campus building in Fishers, Indiana is predominately clad in white ACM panels. But, like all designers, Cannon Design needed to anchor the building with another material. Swisspearl®'s black panels was the panel chosen to address lower, high traffic areas. The base of the building and it's loading dock area, allowed this simple but wise selection of Swisspearl fiber cement panels and an Alpha Vci.44 concealed attachment cladding system to do the job. This proved to be the perfect compliment to the white ACM panels. All of these facades are surrounded by beautiful landscaping that brings the campus together and inspires the Roche staff to achieve even greater accomplishments. Cannon Design has truly added a gem to Fisher and this northern suburb of Indianapolis is becoming a residential and business magnet. 

For a project overview by the architect click here.

The Red Barn - Westport, CT

Not your typical backyard barn - The Red Barn is an award-winning fiber cement rainscreen design by Roger Ferris + Partners. The design intent was to have the roof and walls all work in harmony to create a unique barn that had both function and style. The Red Barn has been a showcase for magazines, award competitions and the enjoyment for the owner. A custom concealed VZ.40 attachment system with continuous fiber cement rainscreen were installed from the vertical walls to the roof. This is a model project that instantly ignites excitement in collaborating with architects and designers to realize their visions.

For a project feature by the architect click here.

Rutgers Chemistry & Biology - Piscataway, NJ

The new Rutgers University Chemistry and Chemical Biology building, by FLAD Architects, was specifically designed to support cutting-edge research. The exterior incorporated a terracotta rainscreen and HO.40 concealed attachment system and the interior utilized white Swisspearl® fiber cement panels. Swisspearl® panels were an excellent choice for interior applications due to their high performance in high-traffic areas. Classrooms, hallways and the entrance incorporated large-format fiber cement panels.

For a project feature by the architect click here.

55 Hudson Yards - New York, NY

Designed by A. Eugene Kohn and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), the renowned 55 Hudson Yards building in New York City received a Merit Award for Architecture This 1.3-million-square-foot office building is located at the intersection of Hudson Yards, the High Line and Hudson Park & Boulevard. The LEED Gold-designed building stands 780 feet tall with the entrance located just across from the No. 7 Subway station.

The unique façade of 55 Hudson Yards is inspired by the revitalized High Line district, the manufactured cast-iron façades of the Soho buildings, and the best of early modernism. Swisspearl® fiber cement panels with an Alpha Vci.10 exposed fasten concrete and concealed Vci.40 were used to create a crown to the skyscraper and highlight it's simple elegance.

For a project feature by the architect click here.

Petersburg YMCA, Petersburg, VA

The YMCA of Petersburg, Virginia was in need of a complete redesign, inside and out, in order for the facility to meet the ever-changing needs of the diverse community it serves. Along with meeting new building code requirements, the YMCA requested a design that would achieve greater efficiencies that would reduce operating costs.  

Enteros Design Architects was selected to rework this vital community space. Installing an engineered Swisspearl® fiber cement rainscreen with VZ.10 subframing system exposed over concrete/brick Z for the building's exterior not only helped to reduce the building's thermal footprint but also provided a sleek, modern, and exciting new look.

For a project feature by the archiect click here.

Jewish Residential Services / Squirrel Hill Gateway - Pittsburgh, PA

Forty Eighty Architecture was hired to design Squirrel Hill Gateway Lofts at the intersection of Murray Avenue and Forward Avenue in Pittsburgh. 

The project is a six-story, 28,000 SF structure consisting of affordable housing and office/programming space for the Jewish Residential Services.  Swisspearl® fiber cement panels were installed vertically, using a VZ.10 subframing system to create the building's convex shape. The architects used different color Swisspearl® panels to add to the exterior aesthetic for this building's design.

SUNY Downstate - Brooklyn, NY

The new 8-story Academic Research Complex for the School of Public Health at SUNY Downstate is a design by Ennead Architects. The building is composed of three "stacked" boxes, of which two dramatically sit atop V-shape supports.

Adjustable subframing was the key to this successful facade installation. ECO Cladding's Alpha Hci.10 subframing system with adjustable brackets allowed the Swisspearl® fiber cement panels to easily be installed with definitive symmetry. Our Alpha brackets, with a built-in 1.5” adjustability, could smoothly accommodate in-the-field tolerances, making it an efficient process for various trades to work together to create perfect lines.

Human Performance Institute - Orlando, FL

Purpose is a strong motivator in behavior change, according to research, and it’s possible for employers to help employees find that purpose. The Orlando-based Human Performance Institute was founded in 1991 and acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2008. Johnson & Johnson invested $18 million in this new research and training facility that doubles as HPI’s global headquarters.

Gensler's design team incorporated large vertical Swisspearl® fiber cement panels to clad the exterior facade of the building. The concealed ECO Cladding Alpha Vci.40 subframing system achieved the project's strict wind load requirements. The chemistry between the glass, the fiber cement, and the landscaping allows the building to inspire all those who enter.

Available Systems

Alpha Vci.10 System

Alpha Vci.10 System

Panel Subframing system that offers visible rivet fixing for fiber cement, HPL or fiber concrete panels. Rivet attachment guarantees high pull-out values and ease of installation.

Alpha Vci.40 System

Alpha Vci.40 System

Panel Subframing system that offers fixing using concealed, undercut anchors for cement composite, ceramic, stone, HPL and fiber concrete panels. The back of each panel is pre-drilled using undercut drill bit to receive the hanger clip and expanding bolt anchor.

Alpha Hci.10 System

Alpha Hci.10 System

Panel Subframing system that offers visible rivet fixing for fiber cement, HPL or fiber concrete panels. Rivet attachment guarantees high pull-out values and ease of installation.

Alpha Hci.11 System

Alpha Hci.11 System

Panel Subframing system that offers visible rivet fixing for fiber cement, HPL or fiber concrete panels. Rivet attachment guarantees high pull-out values and ease of installation.

Alpha Eci.11 Rainscreen System

Alpha Eci.11 System

Panel Subframing system that offers visible rivet fixing for fiber cement, HPL, or fiber concrete panels using our Alpha E edge-to-edge wall bracket. Large spans can be achieved due to a solid supporting beam recess. Rivet attachment guarantees high pull-out values and ease of installation.

Alpha Eci.40 System

Alpha Eci.40 System

Panel Subframing system that offers panel attachment using concealed, undercut anchors for cement composite, ceramic, stone, HPL, and fiber concrete panels using our Alpha E edge-to-edge wall bracket. Large spans can be achieved due to a solid supporting beam recess.

Recent Projects

The design team at Quinn Evans Architects (formerly BCWH) was tasked with creating a modern, energy ...Read More
TEN Arquitectos & WDG Architecture collaboratively designed DC’s West ...Read More
GriD Architects executed the project design of converting a Class C medical office ...Read More
The Commons at Stanton Square, a 55,000 square foot facility is designed with Cladding Corp's ...Read More
The University of Arkansas Bookstore is an outstanding award-winning project and has ...Read More