Division 07 / Metal Wall Panels

Insulated Metal Panels, Single-Skin, and Wall Cladding for Commercial Buildings in Chicagoland

How a building looks from the street is a decision, not a default. Metalmaster Roofmaster designs, fabricates, and installs insulated metal panels, single-skin panels, and architectural metal wall panel systems for commercial and institutional buildings across Chicagoland. We coordinate work from sub-framing through finished cladding with MMRM crews and our 40,000 sq ft fabrication shop.

Metal panels are an architectural decision

A building’s facade is the first thing a client, patient, or tenant sees. Panel profile, seam spacing, finish color, and how light falls across the surface all shape that impression before anyone opens a door. A corrugated industrial panel and a flush plate panel with a Kynar finish are both metal cladding, but they communicate different things about the organization behind the glass.

MMRM fabricates panels to match the design intent. Because we run our own shop, the project team can coordinate profile, dimension, and finish with the drawings instead of relying only on standard catalog sizes.

Bringing us into the design conversation early can keep more options open for materials, profiles, details, and cost.

Panel systems we install

We install five main wall panel systems. Each one fits a different combination of budget, building type, and design intent.

Insulated metal panels (IMP)

An IMP is a factory-assembled panel with a rigid foam core between two metal skins. One product can combine structure, insulation, and a finished surface in a single installation pass. IMPs are commonly specified for cold storage, food processing, and distribution facilities where thermal performance and enclosure schedules matter. They also appear on industrial and warehouse projects where the panel system forms the building skin.

Exposed fastener panels

Exposed fastener systems use corrugated, ribbed, or structural profiles fastened through the face into the framing below. This is often an economical metal wall system for industrial, agricultural, and utility buildings. Color and panel orientation remain design variables.

Standing-seam wall panels

Standing-seam wall panels attach to the substrate with concealed clips, leaving no fasteners on the face. The surface reads as clean vertical seam lines rather than a fastener pattern. These panels are common on office buildings, university campuses, medical offices, and retail centers where the facade is a visual feature. They can also serve as accent bands, canopies, and rainscreen cladding over a separate wall assembly.

Flat plate and flush panel systems

Flat plate and flush panel systems create a metal surface with minimal profile, held in perimeter clips or a proprietary frame. The panel face reads as an unbroken plane. These systems are common on corporate headquarters, hotel exteriors, and mixed-use developments where the envelope carries some of the brand weight. Project-specific sizes and colors are common in this work.

Reveal and shadow-line systems

Reveal systems separate panels with a deliberate gap that creates a shadow line across the facade. The pattern can run horizontally, vertically, or in a grid. Shadow-line systems are common on healthcare campuses, public buildings, and education facilities where the design calls for visual order and a modern look without a flat surface. Reveal depth changes how the facade reads at different times of day.

Metal panels by building type

The right panel system depends on what the building is and what the owner needs it to communicate. We work across a range of commercial and institutional building categories.

Office and corporate campuses

Headquarters, professional services campuses, and tech facilities often specify standing-seam or flat plate panels. The goal is a facade that reads well from the parking lot and the street and is designed for long-term exterior service. Custom color matching, large-format panels, and concealed attachment help create the finished look ownership expects. MMRM can coordinate roofing and wall-panel scopes through one contractor and one shop.

Healthcare and hospital facilities

Medical office buildings, outpatient clinics, and hospital expansion projects need wall systems selected for durability, cleaning requirements, and code compliance. Shadow-line and flat panel systems in PVDF-finished steel or aluminum can support those project goals. We coordinate required documentation and inspections for healthcare work in Illinois and have installed panel systems on medical facilities across the Chicago metro.

Retail and hospitality

Storefronts, shopping centers, hotels, and restaurant pads use metal panels to build high-visibility facades in competitive corridors. Color consistency, custom profiles, and resistance to UV exposure often guide the finish selection. PVDF coating options are designed for exterior color retention; warranty length and coverage depend on the manufacturer, product, color, and project specification.

Industrial and distribution

Warehouses, manufacturing plants, cold-storage facilities, and distribution centers often put performance and enclosure schedules ahead of architectural refinement. Insulated metal panels are commonly specified, while exposed fastener panels can fit lower-budget industrial work. We have installed panel systems on large industrial envelopes across the Midwest and coordinate that work with structural steel and mechanical trades.

Education campuses

School districts, community colleges, and universities often want wall systems designed for long service with limited upkeep. Shadow-line panels and standing-seam cladding are common on new construction and additions. On public-sector jobs with tight facilities budgets, maintenance requirements can be a major selection factor.

In-house fabrication: why it matters on your project

Many metal panel contractors rely on outside panel houses. We fabricate in-house at our 40,000 sq ft shop in McHenry, Illinois, which shortens the coordination path between project drawings, fabrication, and field installation.

• Custom profiles based on the drawing. Within equipment and material limits, we can cut and form project-specific reveals, spacing, gauges, and lengths instead of limiting the design to standard catalog sizes.
• Flashings, trims, and soffits from the same shop. Producing corner conditions, window heads, sill returns, and soffits with the primary panel components helps keep tolerances and profiles consistent.
• Less dependence on outside panel-house schedules. In-house forming gives the project team a shorter coordination path for fabrication and delivery changes.
• One point of accountability. One company coordinates fabrication and installation, so field-fit questions can be resolved within the project team.

Learn more about the custom metal work our shop produces on our metal fabrication page. Gutters, downspouts, copings, expansion joints, and specialty architectural shapes can be produced in the same facility.

Materials and finishes

We work with steel and aluminum as the primary panel substrates, and we specify finishes based on the project’s durability requirements, design intent, and budget.

Panel metals

• Steel, Galvalume-coated. A common substrate for commercial panel applications. Galvalume provides corrosion resistance through a zinc-aluminum alloy coating on the steel surface and is available in gauges selected for the structural requirement.
• Steel, galvanized. Hot-dip zinc-coated steel used in applications that call for added corrosion resistance, including some industrial environments.
• Aluminum. Lighter than steel and naturally corrosion-resistant. It is often used for architectural flat plate and rainscreen applications where sub-framing weight is a consideration, including healthcare and curtain-wall-adjacent projects.
• Weathering steel (Cor-Ten). Self-patinating steel that forms an oxide layer over time. It may be specified for public buildings, transit facilities, and commercial work where the design calls for a raw, industrial, or landscape-integrated material.

Finishes

• Kynar 500 / PVDF coatings. Commonly specified for architectural metal panels because they are designed to resist UV fade, chalking, and surface degradation. Standard and custom colors may be available. Warranty length and coverage depend on the manufacturer, coating system, color, and project specification.
• Primer and field paint. An option for some budget applications or projects that need on-site color adjustment. Its service life may be shorter than a factory-applied PVDF finish.
• Mill finish. Uncoated aluminum or steel. Specified when the natural metal look is the design intent or when a secondary coating will be applied in the field.

Our panel systems are also related to and compatible with our ACM (aluminum composite material) cladding work. If your project includes both panel cladding and ACM column covers, signage surrounds, or soffit panels, we can scope both systems under one contract.

Project references

We have installed metal wall panels on commercial and institutional projects across the Chicago metro and the broader Midwest. Two examples from the portfolio:

• Commercial office facility, suburban Chicago. The scope included standing-seam wall panels on a multi-story corporate office building, concealed clip attachment, a custom Kynar color, and matching flashings and soffits fabricated in our McHenry shop.
• Industrial distribution facility, Chicagoland region. The scope included insulated metal panels for a climate-controlled distribution facility, thermal-performance requirements, and coordination with the structural steel erector and mechanical contractor on a fast-track schedule.

Harris Architects has observed our work on projects in the region. Their LEED AP Project Manager noted: “I am familiar with Metalmaster Roofmaster’s work. They have done several jobs near my home and those facilities look great.”

Why MMRM

• In business since 1977. MMRM’s commercial building-envelope record spans multiple building types across Chicagoland.
• 40,000 sq ft dedicated sheet metal fabrication shop inside a 100,000 sq ft McHenry facility. The shop produces custom panel profiles, flashings, trims, and architectural shapes for MMRM projects.
• Self-performing installation crews. MMRM crews perform the panel erection included in our contract scope.
• Union signatory. Metalmaster Roofmaster is signatory to Local Unions #11, #73, and #265.
• Coordinated fabrication and installation. Project, shop, and field teams work within the same organization.

Frequently asked questions

What types of metal wall panel systems does Metalmaster Roofmaster install?

We install insulated metal panels (IMP), exposed fastener panels, standing-seam wall panels, flush plate and flat panel systems, and reveal or shadow-line systems. Each system suits different budget levels, aesthetic goals, and building types. We fabricate custom components in-house and install the systems with our own crews.

What is the difference between insulated metal panels and standing-seam wall panels?

Insulated metal panels (IMP) are factory-assembled with a foam core between two metal skins. They can combine structure, insulation, and a finished surface in one panel, making them useful for industrial and cold-storage applications. Standing-seam wall panels attach to the substrate with concealed clips and leave no fasteners on the face. This creates the clean vertical or horizontal lines common on office, education, and healthcare facades. They typically go over a separate wall assembly rather than acting as the insulation layer.

Can metal wall panels be installed over an existing masonry or concrete facade?

Yes, when the existing wall and structure are suitable. Metal wall panels are commonly used as retrofit cladding over masonry, precast concrete, and CMU. Sub-framing attaches to the existing wall, and the panels fasten to that framing. The approach can update the building’s appearance, add a weather barrier, and improve insulation values without removing the original structure. We assess the existing wall condition and load capacity before specifying the sub-framing.

How long do metal wall panels last, and what finish warranty applies?

Metal wall panel service life depends on the panel, substrate, coating, exposure, installation, and maintenance. Many properly specified and installed systems are designed for multi-decade service. Finish and corrosion warranty terms vary by material manufacturer, coating system, color, and project specification. We confirm the applicable coverage for the products selected for each project.

Do you fabricate custom panel profiles, or only standard sizes?

We fabricate custom profiles in-house at our 40,000 sq ft shop in McHenry, Illinois, subject to the selected material, equipment limits, and project requirements. Custom widths, depths, reveal dimensions, and lengths can reduce dependence on standard panel-house sizes. Flashings, corner conditions, soffits, and trim can come from the same facility to help keep profiles and details consistent.

What does the installation process look like for a commercial metal wall panel project?

A typical project runs through design review, substrate assessment, sub-framing layout, fabrication, and field installation. Depending on the contract scope, our crews can handle sub-framing, air and weather barrier, panel installation, flashings, and trim. On renovation work, we assess the existing wall for load-bearing capacity and moisture before finalizing the sub-framing specification.

We install metal wall panels for corporate and commercial buildings across Chicagoland, including Oak Brook.

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