Northern Kentucky University

The Northern Kentucky University Center in Highland Heights, Kentucky, was renovated to create a bold architectural statement from the moment visitors arrive on campus.

Designed by Omni Architects, the project called for a material that could deliver vibrant, lasting color and the fabrication flexibility to execute an ambitious interior centerpiece - one that would transform an everyday circulation element into the defining feature of the entire building.

At the heart of the project is the Visitor Center's central staircase, where Fundermax Max Compact Exterior panels in Saffron 0736 rise dramatically from the second floor to the top of the building, bringing to life the vision of the architect, creating a striking visual effect of a flame ascending through the atrium.

Fabricated by SHApe Architectural and installed by Huseman Group using an open-joint exposed fastener system, the 8mm panels deliver precise alignment, clean shadow lines, and the crisp modern aesthetic the architect envisioned - while the color consistency of the Fundermax material ensures the effect reads as bold and intentional from every vantage point in the space.

What makes the project particularly noteworthy is how the same Saffron panels flow seamlessly from that interior focal point to the building's exterior canopy, unifying the experience from the outside in. The decision to use an exterior-grade panel throughout speaks to both the product's versatility and the design team's confidence in its performance across applications.

The durability, fabrication flexibility, and visual impact of the Fundermax panels helped Omni Architects actualize a cohesive design vision - and gave the university a visitor center that makes an unmistakable first impression.