The Project

A mecca for the 75 million who call themselves fans of stock car racing, the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, is home to more than 150,000 square feet of artifacts, interactive exhibits, a NASCAR Hall of Honor as well as a 278-seat theater featuring a 64-foot curved projection screen for showing larger than life NASCAR films.

The Situation

With thousands of visitors expected each month, designers needed to meet strict fire codes for a wide array of 19 different door openings, including some 45-minute rated 8-foot pairs. In addition, designers wanted a thin veneer covering with the look of real wood on all materials in order to complement the doors and other interior millwork as well as achieve desired performance.

The Solution

Warm Springs Composite Products, working in concert with its customer, Contact Industries, provided finished frames certified to each required fire-rating and customized for each opening. WSCP’s frames’ state-of-the-art patented clip system made frame installation a breeze. Warm Springs Composite Products FRX frames incorporated a steamed European beech veneer wrap over each 45-minute certified door frame system in order to achieve the upscale look of real wood. Warm Springs Composite Products FRX frames included a Contact Industries factory-applied, UV-cured, no-VOC clear topcoat on the veneer in order to meet the interior design specifications of the project. The result demonstrates the beauty of real wood in a high end fire door frame application.