Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Dallas, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc., is the owner and operator of 76 venues in North America that combine dining and entertainment. Aria Group assisted with more than 10 of these. The 68th Dave & Buster’s in the U.S. and the fourth in the Chicago area, the Vernon Hills location’s 40,000-square-foot restaurant and entertainment center was completed in March 2014 as part of an expansion of the Westfield Hawthorne Mall.
Meeting the owner and architect’s precise specifications, Linetec painted Laminators’ Omega-Lite® aluminum composite panels in Valspar’s Fluropon® two-coat finishes to match Dave & Buster’s identity standards. Three custom colors were specified: Ionic Sunflower, Yam and Cornucopia Tan. For each color, 30 to 35 panels in up to 121-inch lengths were used, totaling approximately 3,900 square feet.

Composed of a polypropylene, corrugated core between two finished aluminum sheets, Omega-Lite panels are non-absorbent, water-resistant, and easy to maintain. Supplied by distributor S&S Panel Sales, the panel system was installed by Metalmaster Roofmaster using Laminators’ Dry Seal methodology to create a deep reveal look. This installation approach compartmentalizes the air cavity and allows for drainage and ventilation. The high-performance, pressure-equalized wall system reduces moisture-related issues within the wall cavity without caulk at the joints.
Supporting the panel system’s performance, Linetec applied PVDF architectural coatings that meet the industry’s stringent requirements set by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, AAMA 2605. This standard ensures the coatings exhibit outstanding resistance to humidity, color change, chalk, gloss loss and chemicals for long-lasting performance that requires minimal maintenance throughout the buildings’ lifespan.
As an environmentally responsible finisher, Linetec captures the liquid paints’ volatile organic compounds (VOCs) content to eliminate the exhaust of potential pollutants. The primary environmental concern with liquid paints is the solvents, which may have VOC content and must be destroyed safely. Linetec uses a 100 percent air capture system and destroys the VOCs with a regenerative thermal oxidizer, so there is no adverse environmental impact. Linetec then re-uses its heat energy byproduct to improve process energy efficiency. This process of re-use is completed before the material exits the paint line.