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Expert Analysis

Top Ten Specifying IMPs for Extreme Weather Zones

Megan Stewart September 12, 2023 at 3:23 pm 0

Expert Analysis Writer: Steven Huck, District Sales Manager at CENTRIA

Why Choose an IMP in an Extreme Weather Zone?

When hurricanes, tornados, extreme temperatures, snow and ice, or salty ocean air have the potential to impact a structure, it is critical to design a building envelope system that will protect the occupants from the elements and deliver a comfortable environment. In selecting a building envelope system, designers and architects need to weigh a variety of considerations.

For extreme weather zones, IMPs are the leader in each category and deliver the optimal solution.

1. Swings in Temperatures

A single component system like an insulated metal panel works in all seasons and is not impacted by temperature shifts. While the rule of thumb remains to install the air and water barrier toward the warm side, that approach leaves the system wrong half of the year in areas with four seasons and with large temperature swings and extreme temperatures. A universal wall system utilizing IMPs allows for appropriate thermal protection all the time and places the weather-resistant barrier on the control side of the wall managing condensation.

2. Thermal performance

The industry standard for thermal performance remains the R value. The insulative properties of IMPs can be measured two ways: through the R value of the foam interior of the panel or through the U factor of the complete panel system. Building based on a system measurement is critical to ensure thermal performance that is design specific. The key data point to review is the U factor that accounts for the system as a whole, which provides a more valuable and accurate look at the performance. IMPs improve thermal performance by forming air, water, and vapor barriers in one single component to protect the building from the elements. Since the exterior and interior skins of the panels are adhered to the foam core and there is no metal conductance between layers, thermal performance is greatly improved.

3. Integration

Building envelope solutions have evolved to be more energy efficient, but continuous insulation's ambiguity in the code and transitions from opaque wall areas to fenestrations and other penetrations through the envelope present opportunities for improved performance. Thermal imaging shows cold bands at those transitions when IMPs are not used. Integrated components like windows, louvers and sunshades improve the system transitions for thermal, air, and moisture protection. In extreme weather zones, that added protection is critical to ensuring high-performing structures and comfort for occupants. By installing insulated products designed to integrate with other exterior cladding like glass curtain walls and windows, designers can be confident that performance and protection will endure as a system and not leak at the transition seams.

4. Dew points

When dew points are constantly changing, condensation can accumulate and soak traditional building envelope materials and can cause structural components to get wet. When temperatures are constantly changing or outside temperatures are drastically different than the dew point, the building’s walls will deposit bulk water and cause damage to the materials. IMPs place the dew point at an internal point of the panel, so the moisture-phobic foam and galvanized steel skins do not allow moister to enter. That prevents vapor from entering and condensation on any of the wall or structural components.

5. Wind loads

When facing high wind loads, the IMP sandwich panel's torsion box effect ensures resistance to impact, and the skins do not separate from the foam. The ability to select from a wide range of steel gauges allows for additional load and impact capabilities. The thicker, factory-sealed, inspected panels are reliable and deliver a safer panel.

6. Testing requirements

When specifying, it is critical to include the most up-to-date testing and performance requirements. With the ever-changing energy, fire, and performance code requirements, it can be a challenge to select a reputable manufacturer that can keep up with the scope of cladding systems. Great manufactures can provide industry-leading design and functional performance beyond the code-compliance minimums. IMPs allow designs to come to life while providing environmentally effective and occupant-centered spaces.

7. Carbon footprint

Specifying products that have Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) product declarations is a must. This ensures your building envelope is made without red-listed chemicals and through a process that has a low carbon footprint. It is also an important consideration to a building’s journey to completion. Halogen-free foams and climate-conscious methods that are prevalent in the manufacturing of IMPs create better products for longer lifespans and better environmental performance.

8. Gauge

When specifying an exterior cladding product, it is important to understand what the exterior has to contend with and pick the appropriate gauge, or thickness of the panel. IMPs can do gauges that range from 26-18 gauge on interiors and exteriors. In regions where extreme weather is a consideration, a good starting point is a 22-gauge panel to deliver a thicker and therefore stronger, more protective building envelope system to withstand the elements.

9. Installation

IMPs can be installed in a single pass around a building or one trip up a tower, saving coordination of trades, equipment costs and reduced time on site for crews. Installation of IMPs is also not subject to weather conditions. They can be installed in cold or hot weather and even during rain, because the moisture cannot be trapped in the system or absorbed by the foam.

10. Finish

In any weather zone, nearly any type of finish can be used on IMPs. In areas that are exposed to brackish water or salt air, it is best to select finishes that are more capable of resisting corrosive air. This may include stronger primers and clear coats. The facility and its function may also require material consideration. For example, at and around power plants, it is important to consider the PH levels of the processes occurring and upgrade interior finishes on panels to reduce potential corrosion. In extreme weather zones, considering the reflectivity of the panels is critical for safety as well as to ensure that sun reflections and glimmers will not disturb the surrounding environment or cause disruptions on roadways.

Insulated metal panels provide advanced air, thermal, and moisture protection performance, all in one single-component system. In extreme weather zones, the benefits of specifying an all-in-one building envelope system mean cost savings for installation, energy savings on building performance, and a building that endures the elements for the life of the building.

Panel Discussion

Out of the Red List & On to the A-List: HFR-Free Formawall Panels

Maricela Vega September 1, 2021 at 3:01 pm 0

Sustainability isn’t just about being green and energy-efficient anymore. It’s a matter of responsibility and transparency in every part of building materials, from mining and manufacturing to delivery, installation and actual product life. As more and more chemicals are identified as being potentially toxic, carcinogenic, or otherwise hazardous to health or the environment, today’s customers demand to know what’s in their building materials.

Full Transparency

That’s why the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) developed the Red List, a comprehensive listing of hazardous chemicals which manufacturers, construction companies, designers and architects should avoid. Though there are no laws eliminating Red List chemicals yet, now is the time to get ahead of the ball.

As CENTRIA Product Manager Julie Schessler pointed out, “Educational facilities and large corporations tend to be more focused on environmental impact these days. A lot of corporations and institutions have environmental plans and commitments to decrease their carbon emissions contribution to pollution over the next five, ten or twenty years.” This trend towards healthy environments includes Red List chemicals, because they can be hazardous to the health of people within buildings or the environment outside them. End-users and customers are likely to demand Red List-free materials long before legal mandates require it.

The Red List

While it includes well-known and obvious hazards like asbestos, BPA, lead and mercury, the Red List also extends all the way to more common and ubiquitous compounds and chemicals, like PVC, wood treatments and VOCs. The list details more than 800 chemicals to be avoided, but it’s also subject to ongoing additions, deletions, and changes. These are the current umbrella categories:

The Red List

Alkylphenols and Related Compounds

Antimicrobials (marketed with a health claim)

Asbestos Compounds

Bisphenol A (BPA) and Structural Analogues

California-Banned Solvents

Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) and Chlorosulfonated Polyethlene

Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC)

Chlorobenzenes

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Chloroprene (Neoprene)

Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSPE)

Chromium VI

Creosote

Formaldehyde (added)

Halogenated Flame Retardants (HFRs)

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

Organotin Compounds

Pentachlorophenol Alkylphenols

Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs)

Petrochemical Fertilizers and Pesticides

Phthalates (Orthophthalates)

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC)

Short-Chain and Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins

Toxic Heavy Metals

Arsenic

Cadmium

Chromium

Lead (added)

Mercury

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Wet-Applied Products

Wood Treatments Containing Creosote, Arsenic or Pentachlorophenol

Our Green Commitment

At CENTRIA, we’ve long been committed to sustainable building practices and materials, and have kept a close eye on the Red List and any materials we use that may contain Red List chemicals. Luckily, metal construction is mostly free from Red-Listed substances. However, when it’s possible to reduce or eliminate Red List chemicals from our products – such as halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) – we strive to do so.

HFR 101

Halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are added to building products throughout the construction materials industry to inhibit ignition or flame spread in the event of a fire. But they’re also known to contain chlorine and bromine – classified as persistent bioaccumulative toxins, which can accumulate in organisms and the building environment, possibly posing health risks. So we endeavored to replace HFRs from our Formawall Dimension Series products. Launched more than 20 years, Formawall previously used HFRs in its insulating foam core to reduce fire spread risk, but CENTRIA wanted to push the envelope further and find a healthier, more sustainable alternative. This was a voluntary decision, and we were the first in the industry to take it on.

New & Improved

In 2018, we successfully re-introduced the Foam Formawall Dimension Series – free from any Red List chemicals in the panel itself, including HFRs. But can an HFR-free foam still perform well in fire tests? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” The new formulation not only meets National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 285, but surpasses it in every assembly configuration, including both steel stud and steel tube construction. It also meets FM 4882 certification at the highest level for smoke-sensitive environments. “Clean room grade is the highest grade that you can achieve,” said Schessler, “and that's what Formawall achieved.”

Better Than Ever

The new HFR-free Formawall configuration retained all the features that set it apart from the competition. It allows unprecedented design freedom with a variety of shapes and colors with unmatched performance while consolidating six wall components into one product – exterior rainscreen, air and moisture barrier, and thermal insulation. It can be quickly and easily installed in vertical or horizontal orientations, with concealed clips, fasteners, and sealants with insulated metal joints. The updated formula is factory foamed in-place, minimizing the potential for gaps within the panel, and integrates seamlessly with most glass wall, window and louver systems – including Formavue Windows.

Formawall now also comes with a health product declaration (HPD) through the HPD Collaborative, can earn credits towards the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, and is UL-listed for both US and Canada. When combined with Fluorofinish Pure, a chromium- and phthalate-free architectural finish system, the panel is entirely free of Red List chemicals – so you can feel confident that you’ve done right by your customer as well as anyone entering the building.

The re-imagined Formawall Dimension Series is just another example of CENTRIA’s commitment to do right by our customers and the environment – and another in a long list of EPD-certified CENTRIA products. To learn more about Formawall or other ways we’re developing long-term solutions to ecological, health and safety concerns, get in touch with a CENTRIA Representative near you.

energy efficient Formawall metal wall panels Sustainability

Sustainability

Why Get LEED Certified?

Maricela Vega June 23, 2021 at 2:53 pm 0

Regarded as the building industry’s gold standard, the U.S. Green Buildings Council LEED certification program offers a long list of economic, health and wellness benefits. From its introduction in 1998 to late 2019, the USGBC had already reached the milestone of registering and certifying 100,000 commercial projects.

The four-tiered system offers a basic certification, silver, gold and platinum, and is based on a 110 point system where buildings can earn credits in eight different categories.

Boosting an organization’s commitment to sustainability and public image, LEED-certified buildings have been proven to deliver significant energy efficiencies and cost savings.

In fact, after analyzing the monthly energy consumption data of more than 175,000 commercial buildings in Los Angeles over a period of seven years, in “The effectiveness of U.S. energy efficiency building labels,” UCLA and Georgia Tech researchers reported 30 percent more energy savings in LEED-certified buildings.

CENTRIA’s Formawall® insulated metal panels and EcoScreen® perforated panels contributed toward a LEED Platinum certification for Mission College’s Student Engagement Center in Santa Clara, Calif.

In another study, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory reports close to 20 percent lower maintenance costs for LEED buildings as compared to a typical commercial building.

Further, a Porter Novelli-conducted survey of more than 1,000 workers found that a high percentage of employees prefer LEED-certified facilities with 79% prioritizing a job in a LEED building and more than 80% reporting enhanced productivity in these settings.

“Studies have found that LEED-certified buildings can help companies attract talented employees,” states Don Catalano, president and CEO of the Melville, N.Y.-based commercial real estate consultant REoptimizer. “Plus, worker satisfaction in LEED-certified offices tends to be high, decreasing employee turnover.”

In one of these studies, “The Impact of Green Buildings on Cognitive Function,” Harvard and SUNY researchers found that occupants of high-performing green buildings showed higher cognitive function scores, fewer sick-building symptoms and higher sleep quality scores than workers in high-performing buildings without green certification.

"Green certification, thermal conditions and lighting influenced worker perception of their space as well as their cognitive function,” states Joe Allen, assistant professor at Harvard University’s School of Public Health and co-author of the report. “Good companies know the value of providing a healthy workspace. Healthy buildings are a recruiting tool, after all.”

Metal Panels and LEED

While a number of green building materials, systems and strategies can help building owners qualify for LEED certification, high quality metal roofing and panels are particularly effective toward this end.

In a Metal Construction Association-sponsored continuing education unit on sustainability, Gloria D. Lee, principal, Swift Lee Office Architects, Pasadena, Calif., states, “Metal walls and roof systems contribute to a high-performing building envelope in so many ways.”

The panels are long-lasting, low maintenance, moisture and mold resistant, and thermally efficient, and the roofs offer a high solar reflectance index (SRI) to keep roofs and interiors cooler. Metal roofs can also be integrated with photovoltaic and rainwater harvesting systems for enhanced energy and water efficiencies.

CENTRIA’s Formawall® system played an important role in helping Pittsburgh’s Tower 260 achieve LEED Silver certification.

Breaking it Down

For LEED v4’s eight categories, metal walls and panels can directly contribute to credits in four main areas and indirectly in an additional two areas.

Sustainable Sites – By meeting designated initial and three-year aged Solar Reflectance Index values for steep slope and low slope roofs in the Heat Island Effect category, buildings can earn up to 2 points with cool metal roofs and coatings. Because prefabricated metal systems require a minimal staging area, they support the pursuit of an additional point through Site Development. In addition, metal roofs are a great platform for Rainwater Management which can help projects earn up to 3 points.

In turn, rainwater management can contribute to Outdoor Water Use and Indoor Water Use credits in the Water Efficiency category.

Energy and Atmosphere – For Optimize Energy Performance, metal systems can help buildings cash in on a windfall of LEED points. With its high insulating value and thermal performance, insulated metal panels (IMP), for instance, can contribute up to 18 points. As validated through energy models, thermal efficient building enclosures support downsized HVAC systems and reduced electrical loads. Though indirect, metal facades and roofs incorporate windows and skylights, which, along with perforated panels, support up to 3 points in Daylight credits. In addition, metal roofs support PV panels and solar thermal systems to garner up to 3 points for Renewable Energy Production.

Materials and Resources – IMPs can also make a significant contribution in a number of categories here. Starting with Building Life Cycle Impact Reduction, up to 5 credits are available for optimized environmental performance of products, materials and adaptive reuse. Another 3 points are available for performing a Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment with the assistance of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which many building product companies, particularly metal panel manufacturers have developed. EPDs can add another point for Building Product Disclosure and Optimization, a category which grants a second point for Sourcing of Raw Materials.

Another subcategory is Material Ingredients where projects can earn one point toward Building Product Disclosure and a second credit via Optimization. With its high recycled content, metal panels are a great advantage here.

For Construction and Demolition Waste Management, prefabricated metal systems significantly reduce waste, contributing up to 2 points.

Indoor Environmental Quality – By specifying products and systems, such as metal walls and roofs with Low-Emitting Materials, another 3 points can be collected here.

Making the Grade

As building owners and architects evaluate many materials, products and systems in their quest to design a LEED-certified building, high quality metal roof and wall panels are a great way to get there.

EcoScreen Formawall LEED metal wall panels Roof Panels Sustainability

Design Innovation

CENTRIA® Delivers Greater Versatility, Proven Performance with Introduction of Versawall H+® Insulated Metal Panels

Gloria Tshilenge June 26, 2020 at 5:04 pm 0

CENTRIA^®, leading innovator and manufacturer of the world’s most advanced building envelope wall and roof panels, is providing additional flexibility to designers, architects and specifiers with the introduction of the Versawall H+^® Insulated Metal Panel. It is the latest expansion to CENTRIA’s Versawall product line, a family of commercial and industrial insulated metal panels that deliver the industry’s best combination of aesthetics, performance, sustainability, and value.

“Today’s designers and architects are in search of options that enable them to bring their vision to life and exceed their client’s expectations all at once,” said Julie Schessler, product manager, CENTRIA. “The new Versawall H+ is an attractive, energy-efficient wall panel option that is engineered for buildings where a horizontal profile is more desirable.”

Comprised of a galvanized steel face and foam insulation, the Versawall H+ is strong yet lightweight, creating efficiency in the installation process. The panels also deliver superior weather resistance and moisture protection. From a design perspective, the panels enable architects to create a sleek, modern look for large-scale buildings that have lower, wider profiles, including warehouses, schools, and shopping centers.

The Versawall H+ is available in modules of 30 and 36 inches and in two- and three-inch thicknesses. Panels can be manufactured in a wide variety of finishes and colors.

Formawall

Design Innovation

CENTRIA® Formawall® Completes Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research

Chelsey Godfrey October 3, 2019 at 8:00 am 0

One Research Drive is home to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (ICAR). CENTRIA®, the world’s leading provider of high-performance building envelopes, contributed more than 13,000 square feet of Formawall™ to the building façade, which visually echoes nearby campus buildings also clad in Formawall.

“We aimed to have the material connection across all facades, – the ICAR and the Center for Emerging Technologies – in addition to the same durability and speed of installation we enjoyed with the Emerging Technologies project,” says Chris Stone, Associate Principal, LS3P, the firm responsible for the building design.

The 85,000 square-foot structure aesthetically unites other nearby Clemson structures with the same clean lines and modern aesthetic. The design team with LS3P associates leveraged the sleek exterior and consistency afforded by working with Formawall.

“We utilized the CENTRIA panels in a continuous ribbon across the building, which enabled it to have a uniform, distinct façade: Its 4 sides all have prominent frontage and CENTRIA panels formed the primary skin that wrapped around the entire building,” says Stone.

Formawall is CENTRIA’s flagship line of insulated metal panels, combining unprecedented design freedom with unmatched performance. The product’s five distinct profiles deliver unlimited design combinations and create the world’s most imaginative building envelopes with varying articulations, rhythms, and textures.

Not only did Formawall provide the optimal building façade for Clemson’s needs, but the design team also opted to use the product for its accelerated and seamless installation capabilities.

“We have been working with CENTRIA products for quite some time and find that their speed of installation, longevity, and durability are all factors that make them ideal for our needs,” says Stone. “At the International Center for Automotive Research, the CENTRIA product was installed quickly enough to get the core and shell enclosed on-schedule.”

Other members of the design and construction team included general contractor, Sherman Construction, and CENTRIA dealer, Steel Clad, Inc.

Formawall Formawall Dimension Series imp insulated metal panels

Design Innovation

CENTRIA Formawall® and Integrated Formavue Windows Enhance Salish Cancer Center Exterior

Chelsey Godfrey September 16, 2019 at 8:00 am 0

The Salish Integrative Oncology Care Center is the first ever tribal-owned cancer care facility in the Native American community and the United States as a whole.

More than 28,000 square feet for CENTRIA Formawall was installed on the building’s exterior to create the desired all-metal aesthetic and provide multiple lines of defense against water infiltration.

The addition of 12,000 square feet of integrated Formavue windows forged the complete wall system with fully integrated details and CENTRIA’s advanced thermal and moisture performance (ATMP®) technology.

“The CENTRIA system was not only light but incorporated an exterior insulation that would meet energy code requirements for even a new building,” says project architect Chris Tongray, of TGB Architects. “Additionally, the CENTRIA system was sole-source, with windows and panels by a single manufacturer installed by a single subcontractor as a single system.”

The high-performing system was also successfully able to achieve the modern aesthetic desired by the building owners, the Puyallup Tribe, who purchased the structure in 2015. The Tribe founded the hospital to create a truly unique form of care, blending traditional oncology treatments with integrative medicine techniques like naturopathy and acupuncture.

The team from TGB Architects specified the mottled, natural finish provided by CENTRIA’s AllusionTM Rust print coat system, designed to simulate natural materials like wood, slate, bronze or zinc.

“The client is very satisfied with the project thus far,” says Tongray. “The contractors on-site have said that ‘everyone loves it.’”

The Salish Cancer Center was completed in August, 2016. TGB Architects provided architectural services, Andersen Construction was the general contractor, and the CENTRIA dealer/installer was Cobra BEC, Inc. Morrison Hershfield was brought on board as a wall consultant.

Formavue Formawall Formawall Dimension Series healthcare imp insulated metal panel

Design Innovation

Pittsburgh Mixed-Use Building Enhanced with CENTRIA Formawall®

Chelsey Godfrey August 6, 2019 at 8:00 am 0

CENTRIA® Formawall® enhances downtown Pittsburgh’s Tower 260 mixed use building by contributing to striking asymmetrical design elements. The approximately

430,000 square foot development reinvigorates the downtown area with its visually-compelling profile and its capacity for new business, entertainment, and residences.

“The site shape is a classic result of an era when buildings were demolished to be replaced by parking lots wedged among the surviving buildings,” says Arquitectonica, the architecture and design firm responsible for this project. “This building exemplifies urban regeneration.”

Approximately 54,000 square feet of Formawall High Performance Building Envelope System aided in the final design of Tower 260. The panels were specified with a smooth finish in Sundance™ Mica. This enabled the firm to achieve its multi-prism design vision across several volumes.

“CENTRIA Formawall was a good fit for this project – the panels’ modular nature helped significantly with lay-out and installation,” says Tom Haught, Vice President, A.C. Dellovade, the CENTRIA dealer and installer. “The panel lengths were manageable - 12’-14’ – which made it very easy to move the material around the site while allowing A.C. Dellovade to keep our manpower down to basically 2- or 3-man crews.”

CENTRIA Formawall systems are durable, aesthetically-unique, and contain no red-list ingredients. Formawall consolidates up to six components found in common wall assemblies into just one, and its distinct profiles deliver unlimited design combinations.

Tower 260 has seven floors of Class A office space, a 330-car parking garage, and is home to the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh Downtown. Restaurants in the building include Revel + Roost, Pizzuvio, and Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream. The building is LEED® Certified™ Silver, and tenants include JLL, the anchor tenant, and Merrill-Lynch.

The firm responsible for the design was Arquitectonica, and the general contractor was Turner Construction. The CENTRIA dealer and installer was A.C. Dellovade Inc. The building was completed in 2016.

Formawall Formawall Dimension Series LEED Office Parking Garage

Panel Discussion

CENTRIA to Feature a Variety of Products at AIA 2019

Chelsey Godfrey May 16, 2019 at 8:00 am 0

CENTRIA will be showcasing its advanced Formawall® insulated metal panels system and integrated Formavue® windows, in addition to introducing Intercept™ Entyre Copper at AIA 2019 from June 6-8 in Las Vegas at Booth #6325.

CENTRIA will also offer a series of three innovative presentations reviewing the Red List-free Formawall system, Intercept rainscreen integration with insulated composite backup panels, and CENTRIA’s full-breadth of engineering and design capabilities. Architects and other industry professionals can register at CENTRIA Booth #6325 to attend the course of their choice and learn more about CENTRIA high-performance metal wall and roof systems.

NEW:

Intercept Entyre Copper modular metal panels offer smooth planes and clean sight lines in an extensive palette of colors and finishes. The system offers integration excellence with a continuous engagement extrusion and concealed fasteners that work in conjunction with sequentially installed modular panel units. Copper Entyre panels can be integrated with any other Intercept panel or substrate. Maximum panel module size is 26” and maximum panel length is 79”.

FEATURED

Formawall has dual metal skins, advanced integral joinery, and a robust core of high R-value rigid foam insulation. It installs as a single component. Formavue windows feature aluminum framing that incorporates a complete thermal break and integral head and sill joinery that marries seamlessly with Formawall panels. This integrated design eliminates the need for time-consuming window/wall interface detailing and ensures ultimate weathertightness, maximum thermal performance, and reduced opportunity for window condensation.

For more information about CENTRIA products featured at AIA 2019 and across its extensive catalogue, visit www.centria.com.

Copper Entyre Formavue Formawall Formawall Dimension Series Intercept

Design Innovation

CENTRIA Formawall® and IW Series Panels Achieve Aesthetic and Performance Goals at Minnesota Vikings Facility

Chelsey Godfrey April 8, 2019 at 8:00 am 0

The Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center — also serving as the Minnesota Vikings Team Headquarters and Practice Facility — exemplifies the team’s spirit, unity, and resilience. Through its design, it also nods to ancient Viking history, culture, country of origin, and forms including longships and their intricate jewelry. Because of its outstanding aesthetic, CENTRIA’s Formawall® high-performance building envelope was deemed the ideal product to fulfill Crawford Architects’ vision, simultaneously meeting stringent performance goals and enabling efficient construction.

The entire complex spans 40 acres, and a massive 546,488 total square feet. CENTRIA Formawall and IW Series panels contributed to more than 225,000 square feet of exterior cladding. It includes custom architectural overlays and was also awarded with a very aggressive schedule; the entire team was able to meet the stringent goals in a timely fashion.

“A highly flexible system, Formawall enabled us to achieve our ‘glacial’ design objective. And as a bonus, it offers standardized panel dimensions,” says Doug Osborn, Senior Associate, Crawford Architects, the firm responsible for the design. “The system is efficiently engineered to expedite the installation process, allowing essentially one pass around the building to create the desired aesthetic while fulfilling performance requirements via the weather barrier, thermal barrier, and vapor barrier.”

The Formawall high-performance building envelope consolidates up to six components found in common wall assemblies into one. The product’s five distinct profiles deliver unlimited design combinations and create the world’s most imaginative building envelopes. In addition, all Formawall products include a standard halogen-free foam core, thereby creating a more sustainable building environment while improving the product’s fire performance.

“The Formawall system, including necessary flashings, sealants, and other components, provided very clean lines and the right kind of crisp, refined appearance we wanted for the exterior of this facility,” Osborn says. “CENTRIA products consistently possess a high degree of quality, and we also appreciate the finished appearance of the Formawall design.”

Also designed to be a true home for the Minnesota Vikings, and those who work with them, the facility has achieved its goal of unity, illustrated by the fact that team members opt to train in the space during the offseason.

“The facility is relentless in its demand for quality; it unifies all those that call it home and it expresses innovative design and construction,” says Osborn. “The team has signed free agents that have commented that the lure of training at the Center was too great an opportunity to pass up. And current players have opted to spend the offseason in Minnesota so they can access the facility’s amenities and continue to train.”

The Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center and Minnesota Vikings Practice Facility and Team Headquarters was completed in March 2018. Crawford Architects provided design services and the general contractor was Kraus-Anderson Construction Company. The CENTRIA dealer and installer was IWR North America.

arena Formawall Formawall Dimension Series imp insulated metal panel IW Series

Design Innovation

CENTRIA Formawall® Completes Caliguiri Plaza Affordable Housing

Chelsey Godfrey March 6, 2019 at 8:00 am 0

CENTRIA’s Formawall® high-performance building envelope effectively enabled the design team at Renaissance 3 Architects to achieve Caliguiri Plaza’s modern, vibrant façade — and to integrate the structure with the neighborhood.

Approximately 22,000 square feet of Formawall were specified in Sandstone, Bear Claw, and Champagne Bronze colors to give the building character and presence.

“Our goal was to create a contemporary and vibrant façade that expressed the building’s residential function,” says Carla Worthington, Senior Associate, Renaissance 3 Architects. “By utilizing CENTRIA's wide selection of standard colors, we were able to panelize the façade in a way that reduced the visual scale of the building and made it more compatible with the surrounding neighborhood context.”

Caliguiri Plaza is located in the center of the Allentown Business District, just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. The affordable housing complex has 104 units for the elderly and for persons with disabilities. There are 10 accessible units, and the building is one block away from the senior activity center. Residents enjoy access to local bus and trolley transportation, a laundry room, a community room, and a host of activities organized by the Tenant Council.

In addition to Formawall’s contribution to the building’s design, the system also achieved the exact level of thermal insulation desired.

“The characteristics of the CENTRIA panels helped us to fulfill several design objectives: They provided the required thermal insulation values, they offered a variety of panel sizes that were able to accommodate the various spans of the existing structural systems, and they provided a finish quality that met the residents' aspirations,” says Worthington. “Formawall provided a weather barrier, insulation system, and a finish material in a single product.”

The Formawall high performance building envelope comes complete with all the sophisticated, interlocking components required to design and construct healthier, longer-lasting, high-performing buildings. The panels are Red List-free, containing no harmful halogens, and meets the Health Product Declaration Standard.

The modular system can also be quickly and easily installed, which was a benefit to the project’s construction schedules.

“CENTRIA provided two additional assets to our team,” Worthington says. “First, the modular nature of the system allowed the panels to be installed quickly in the field. Second, the panels afforded us the flexibility to be modified in response to field conditions.”

The Caliguiri Plaza was completed in July 2017. Renaissance 3 Architects provided design services, and the general contractor was ATI. The CENTRIA dealer and installer was A.C. Dellovade, Inc.

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Formawall

Why Choose an IMP in an Extreme Weather Zone?

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