When it comes to designing building exteriors, architects and designers today are looking for building materials that perform well and look great. They want the science behind the material to deliver high-performance structures and the artistic freedom to use that material to create buildings with distinctive architectural flair. 

That’s where insulated metal panels come in. 

IMPs are where the science of high thermal performance meets the art of vast design possibilities. 

This convergence of science and art in a building envelope solution is why IMPs are a cladding material of choice today for a wide spectrum of facilities—from sports venues to hospitals to manufacturing centers to industrial parks and more. 

Here is a closer look at why both the science and art of IMPs are fueling their use in commercial building projects across sectors. 

The Science of IMPs 

IMPs are exterior wall and roof panels with steel skins and an insulating foam core.  

An advanced building envelope solution that combines high thermal performance and weather-tight engineering when installed correctly, these panels are uniquely manufactured to help deliver energy-efficient, low-carbon buildings. 

IMPs serve as an all-in-one barrier solution for air, water, and vapor, providing a lightweight, cost-effective, and thermally efficient alternative to traditional building materials such as tilt-up concrete and exterior finishing systems. 

Offering R-values up to 8.0 per inch and continuous insulation, these panels create an excellent barrier against heat transfer, helping to reduce energy consumption, lower energy costs and create comfortable indoor environments.  

According to the World Green Building Council, buildings are responsible for 39 percent of global emissions—28 percent from operational emissions and 11 percent from embodied carbon emissions. By reducing energy use, IMPs help to lower operational carbon emissions. Panels from one leading U.S. manufacturer in particular have also been demonstrated to be lower in embodied carbon compared to conventional concrete wall assemblies.   

Innovative IMPs on the market today can help advance low-carbon efforts required to achieve green building certifications, such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. 

The Art of IMPs 

While the IMPs of old were monochromatic and often only available in limited hues and finishes, today's panels offer a wide range of contemporary colors, textures, and finishes, providing architects and designers the freedom to tap into creative possibilities. 

This wealth of creative options means that architects can find just the right combination of IMPs to fit the design aesthetic of many projects. 

For example, a wide range of standard and custom colors can be chosen to create a distinctive look that reflects a brand’s image and integrates well with a location aesthetic; ribbed profile panels can be selected to create accented lines.  

With IMPs, architects and designers also have considerable freedom to vary the size, dimensions, and orientation of insulated panels. IMPs can be arranged both vertically and horizontally to create a dynamic pattern and unusual geometries from jutting angular designs to sweeping curves. 

Modern Buildings: The Art and Science of IMPs in Action  

Here’s a look at some examples of how architects and designers are using IMPs to create high-performing, high-style buildings:  

• Architects selected IMPs for their energy efficiency and custom colors in the construction of a mixed-use building in Cambridge, Mass. Panels in custom clay metallic colors make the building shine, and their insulation properties help meet the high standards of energy efficiency required for the building. 
• Architects designing a retail store for a classic brand selected IMPs to create a bold look that drew inspiration from the brand’s iconic colors. These panels not only create a striking look to the building but also provide strong thermal efficiency.  
• More than 200,000 square feet of IMPs were used in the construction of a global aircraft manufacturing facility to take advantage of the increased energy efficiency and high R-values that IMPs offer. A wide range of panel profiles were used to create an attractive linear appearance with subtle shadows. 
• IMPs were chosen to provide thermal efficiency benefits to a medical center. By creating air and watertight continuous insulation seals, IMPs help maintain safe and comfortable environments for patients. To provide a dynamic finish to the project, designers selected panels in pearlescent micas and metallic colors. 
• IMPs were used in the construction of a 256,000-square-foot mixed-use university building to combine performance with an aesthetic design. IMPs, in addition to traditional brick, thin brick, concrete panels, and more, helped to blend the new building with an existing building across the street. 

These are just a few examples of how IMPs combine technology with aesthetic flexibility to deliver efficient and stylish buildings that can meet the requirements of retrofit and new build projects across a wide range of sectors.