1. DensElement Barrier System
Georgia-Pacific Gypsum
Project: Block 20 Condominium Tower, Portland, Ore. Problem: Needed a building envelope that could withstand Portland’s rainy climate. Solution: DensElement Barrier System with AquaKOR Technology integrates a gypsum core and a fiberglass mat to form a hydrophobic, monolithic surface that blocks bulk water but allows vapor to pass through. On the team: Bora Architects (design architect), Western Partitions (subcontractor), Andersen Construction (GC).
2. Majesta windows, Ultra Series doors
Kolbe Windows & Doors
Project: Hoover Hall, DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. Problem: The windows and doors needed to complement the aesthetics of the campus. Solution: Majesta windows were custom made to meet the large size specified. Ultra Series doors were pre-hung and included hand-routed grooves in the wood to simplify electrical connections. On the team: Robert A.M. Stern Architects,
JC Ripberger (exterior contractor), Turner (GC).
3. Cambridge Mid-Balance mesh
Cambridge Architectural
Project: Thornton Flats, Austin, Texas Problem: The builder desired a relaxed South Austin vibe and wanted to highlight the indoor-outdoor spaces. Solution: The façade was accentuated with a metal mesh leaf pattern. It was created by powder-coating the surrounding mesh in antique bronze, which appears black. A tan wall behind the 50%-opacity mesh creates a 3D effect. On the team: PSW Homes (developer, designer, builder), L&S Erectors (installer).
4. Zipwall dust barrier
Zipwall
Project: King’s Creek Country Club Pro Shop, Rehoboth Beach, Del. Problem: The pro shop needed to remain open during a dusty renovation. Solution: A ZipWall Dust Barrier System and Magnetic Door was installed to contain the dust and debris associated with an outside patio addition and drywall installation. The 50-foot barrier, deemed to be more practical than a temporary wall, was installed in less
than five minutes.
5. PAC-CLAD in Weathered Steel
Petersen Aluminum + Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings
Project: The Parkside at Craig Ranch apartments and townhomes, McKinney, Texas Problem: The design team desired a weathering “corten steel” aesthetic, inspired by the canyons and countryside near El Paso. Color match, availability, and budget were critical. Solution: 11,000 sf of PAC-CLAD standing seam wall panels finished in Weathered Steel. The two-coat finish, by Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings, replicates the multi-tone appearance of actual weathered steel. On the team: JHP Architecture, Stazon Roofing (metal fabricator).
6. bird-friendly Starphire Ultra-Clear Glass
Vitro Architectural Glass + Walker Glass
Project: The National Aviary’s Tropical Rainforest, Pittsburgh Problem: Required a glass roof that would sustain wildlife and plant life throughout the year while keeping the spaces bird-safe. Solution: 3,100 panes of laminated Starphire Ultra-Clear Glass (from Vitro) with a bird-friendly AviProtek acid-etched finish (Walker). On the team: Montgomery Smith (preservation), Dlubak Specialty Glass (fabricator), Greenhouse RSI (installer).
Related Stories
Cladding and Facade Systems | Sep 22, 2023
5 building façade products for your next multifamily project
A building's façade acts as a first impression of the contents within. For the multifamily sector, they have the potential to draw in tenants on aesthetics alone.
Products and Materials | Aug 31, 2023
Top building products for August 2023
BD+C Editors break down 15 of the top building products this month, from frameless windscreens to smart fixture mount sensors.
Products and Materials | Jul 31, 2023
Top building products for July 2023
BD+C Editors break down 15 of the top building products this month, from cleanroom doors to window storm protection systems.
Mass Timber | Jul 11, 2023
5 solutions to acoustic issues in mass timber buildings
For all its advantages, mass timber also has a less-heralded quality: its acoustic challenges. Exposed wood ceilings and floors have led to issues with excessive noise. Mass timber experts offer practical solutions to the top five acoustic issues in mass timber buildings.
Building Materials | Jun 14, 2023
Construction input prices fall 0.6% in May 2023
Construction input prices fell 0.6% in May compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices declined 0.5% for the month.
Cladding and Facade Systems | Jun 5, 2023
27 important questions about façade leakage
Walter P Moore’s Darek Brandt discusses the key questions building owners and property managers should be asking to determine the health of their building's façade.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 27, 2023
Watch: Specifying materials in multifamily housing projects
A trio of multifamily housing experts discusses trends in materials in their latest developments. Topics include the need to balance aesthetics and durability, the advantages of textured materials, and the benefits of biophilia.
3D Printing | Apr 11, 2023
University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory unveils Shell Wall—a concrete wall that’s lightweight and freeform 3D printed
The University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory has unveiled a new product called Shell Wall—which the organization describes as the first lightweight, freeform 3D printed and structurally reinforced concrete wall. The innovative product leverages DART Laboratory’s research and development on the use of 3D-printing technology to build structures that require less concrete.
Cladding and Facade Systems | Apr 5, 2023
Façade innovation: University of Stuttgart tests a ‘saturated building skin’ for lessening heat islands
HydroSKIN is a façade made with textiles that stores rainwater and uses it later to cool hot building exteriors. The façade innovation consists of an external, multilayered 3D textile that acts as a water collector and evaporator.
Windows and Doors | Apr 4, 2023
Schweiss Doors erects manufacturing building to showcase new doors
Schweiss Doors, the premier manufacturer of hydraulic and bifold liftstrap doors, erected a new manufacturing facility which will also serve as a showcase for the company’s new “free-standing” header frames.
