Iolani School Student Center

About This Project

Creative Partition Systems (CPS) was subcontracted by Albert C. Kobayashi to construct a new student center that will serve as the central hub of the Iolani School campus, providing a vibrant gathering space for the entire school community. Spanning over 57,000 square feet across three stories, the facility includes a spacious two-story dining hall, a health and wellness center, a student store, nine new classrooms for sixth grade, seven upper school classrooms, and a dedicated lounge for faculty and staff.

CPS’ scope of work encompassed both interior and exterior metal framing, EIFS, interior gypsum board installation, acoustical ceiling tile (ACT), acoustical wall and ceiling panels, an AL13 batten ceiling in the dining hall, and an AL13 plank ceiling for the exterior areas. This project consisted of an aggressive fast-track schedule, close coordination among multiple trades, and the use of specialty materials.

CPS self-performed over $6 million worth of work, averaging about $1 million in completed work per month. To help accelerate the schedule, our team worked overtime from June through November.

The successful execution of this project depended heavily on seamless coordination between all trades. A standout feature of the project is the two-tiered dining hall ceiling, with heights of 20 and 22 feet. This space includes over 500 linear feet of metal-framed soffits, more than 300 light fixtures, and numerous diffusers and fire sprinklers. The ceiling also ties into full-height storefront systems that required precise collaboration between CPS and the mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, and storefront teams to ensure proper sequencing and installation.

One of the architectural highlights of the project is the use of AL13 aluminum wall and ceiling panels. While they have the appearance of wood, these panels are actually aluminum— offering benefits such as lightweight construction, resistance to termites, and being low maintenance. CPS was responsible for installing approximately 35,000 square feet of this material as part of the ceiling scope. According to AL13, this is their largest batten system in the U.S. to date.

– Neolith sintered stone rainscreen panels
– RPG Waveform and Expo acoustical panels
– Kinetics wall panels and isolator ceiling system
– 9 wood ceiling systems
– Armstrong Metalworks ceiling systems

Despite the complexity and demanding schedule, CPS delivered exceptional results—completing the project on time and to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. This project stands as a testament to CPS’s ability to execute large-scale, high-performance builds with precision and professionalism. The project was completed in July 2025.

Project Completion:
November 2025