Project Name: Plaquemines Parish Detention Center in Davant, La.
Architect: L.R. Kimball
General Contractor: The Lemoine Company
Glazier: Glass, Inc.
Products used: SuperSecure II-XLS with Level III Ballistic/Grade 2 Attack in SAFTIfire Ballistic Framing
Plaquemines Parish Detention Center was one of the major structures devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Due to extensive damage, inmates were transferred to neighboring facilities and Congress allocated funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the design and construction of a new jail. After years of delays, construction of the new 207,000-square-foot facility that could house up to 871 inmates and employ 125 correctional officers broke ground in 2011, and is on track to be finished this year.
During the design phase, the designers at L. R. Kimball in Ebensburg, PA reached out to SAFTI FIRST for fire and security rated glazing options. They wanted the glazing system to provide clear, wire-free lines of sight for supervisors to observe the inmates while still providing secure separation, physical containment and protection against forced entry and ballistic attack. Since the glazing system was located in various egress paths and control rooms, it would have to be fire rated as well. Lastly, the architects also wanted a tested and listed system from a single-source manufacturer.
Taking all of the fire and security requirements into account, SAFTI FIRST supplied SuperSecure II-XLS with Level III Ballistic/Grade 2 Attack in SAFTIfire Ballistic Framing for the corridors and SuperSecure II-XLS with Level III Ballistic/Grade 2 Attack and one-way reflective glass in SAFTIfire Ballistic Framing for the control rooms. Since these systems were located on the ground level, SAFTI FIRST supplied the SAFTIfire Ballistic Framing already welded to simplify the installation process and reduce labor hours.
SuperSecure II-XLS with Level III Ballistic/Grade 2 Attack and one-way reflective glass in SAFTIfire Ballistic Framing for the control rooms.
When this project went out to bid, alternative fire rated glass suppliers proposed a design where the ballistic glass would come from a different manufacturer and then glazed alongside the fire rated glass in the field. This was rejected by the architect because they wanted a tested and listed system from one manufacturer.
“During the design phase, it was obvious that the designers wanted a wireless, bullet/attack resistant and fire rated glass system. The SuperSecure II-XLS product met all of their performance and aesthetic requirements,” says Tim Nass, VP of National Sales at SAFTI FIRST. “The appeal was a product that had been tested and listed specifically for these types of applications. The designers took comfort in knowing they didn’t have a system ‘cobbled’ together with different components, but rather a system designed to do the job as required.”
Glazing two separate pieces of glass in the field also increases the material cost, as well as installation and maintenance costs as condensation may occur between the two separate pieces of glass. In addition, the alternative framing system proposed by other suppliers had exposed stops and screws, which could potentially be tampered with. The SAFTIfire Ballistic Framing system incorporates aluminum caps that cover all the screws, eliminating the potential of tampering with the frames.
At the end of the day, SAFTI FIRST was able to meet the aesthetic and performance requirements of this project by collaborating with the architect in the design phase and delivering a solution that enhances the design of this modern, secure and specialized facility while ensuring the safety of the guards, staff and inmates.
Click on the following links for more information on SuperSecure II-XLS and SAFTIfire Ballistic Framing.
Related Stories
| Jul 18, 2012
Legat & Kingscott relocates architecture/interior design office
Move enables the architecture/interior design firm to better serve its expanding clientele.
| Jul 18, 2012
Alcoa appoints Hunter Architectural Manager
Hunter to operate with the goal of driving specification, new product adoption and overall demand for the Alcoa BCS North America product range.
| Jul 17, 2012
AIA and Architecture for Humanity select Disaster Response Grant recipients
Awards help each group implement their locally driven preparedness project in the second half of the year.
| Jul 17, 2012
KM/Plaza changes name to Plaza Construction
Lands new projects including the Perry South Beach Hotel and Dadeland Mall Kendall Wing Expansion.
| Jul 17, 2012
Dr. Phillips Charities Headquarters Building receives LEED Silver
The building incorporates sustainable design features, environmentally-friendly building products, energy efficient systems, and environmentally sensitive construction practices.
| Jul 16, 2012
BD+C Under 40 Leadership Summit scheduled
Attendee registration for U40 Summit II now open.
| Jul 16, 2012
Construction spending at 2 ½ year peak
Construction economist Ken Simonson says that four private nonresidential categories each posted 12-month spending increases of more than 25%: power and energy construction, 35%; hotels, 29%; educational and manufacturing, 27% apiece.
| Jul 16, 2012
Chen named design director at Heery
Chen comes to Heery from his own firm, Mark Chen Architect, a design and planning consulting firm, based in New York City, whose recent work includes large-scale planning studies for mixed-use projects.
| Jul 16, 2012
Reed Construction hires new project manager
Fread is a LEED AP and received his degree from Purdue University.
| Jul 16, 2012
Business school goes for maximum vision, transparency, and safety with fire rated glass
Architects were able to create a 2-hour exit enclosure/stairwell that provided vision and maximum fire safety using fire rated glazing that seamlessly matched the look of other non-rated glazing systems.
