H O W M O D E R N F O L D ’ S O P E R A B L E W A L L S M A K E B E A U T I F U L , F L E X I B L E W O R K S PA C E S , P. 3 2
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OLSON KUNDIG’S 9TH & THOMAS PROJECT IN SEATTLE
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A Sense of Place
BRINGING WORK BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY
In This Issue Summer 2020 Volume 11, Issue 61
Reimagining the Cubicle How design inspires productivity and builds community in the workspace
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An Expert’s Guide to Operable Walls
Table of Contents Products 16 The Benefits of Designing with Engineered Wood Nordic Structures is taking sustainable forestry to new heights.
46 A Guide to Outdoor Fire Pits
Sagegreenlife brings nature into the office with clever design and beautiful living walls.
APV Engineered Coatings’ NeverFade line of coatings are easy to apply and customizable.
Features 86 Next Level Materials
Sensera Systems’ solar-powered solutions give construction teams the full picture.
28 An Expert’s Guide to Superior Urban Design
MDC Wallcoverings add texture and character to spaces with cost-effective, environmentally friendly panels.
42 An Expert’s Guide to Sustainable Flooring Bentley Mills’ latest products are vibrant, flexible, and luxurious—offering what you need without breaking the bank.
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Terra-cotta tile from Ludowici transformed this garden center and living classroom.
90 An Architect’s Guide to Linear Fireplaces
Classic Displays provides bicycle racks, lane separators, and more to make cities safer.
38 A Designer’s Guide to Dimension Walls
Warming Trends designs and manufactures gas fire features for outdoor spaces.
50 How to Elevate Interior Spaces with Biophilic Design
20 The Benefits of Specialty Architectural Coatings
24 The Benefits of Jobsite Monitoring Solutions
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Earthcore’s Maximus Linear Series offers fireplaces made from Icelandic pumice.
94 Talking About Regeneration
ASSA ABLOY is reducing embodied carbon with a self-powered door operator and other innovative product solutions.
Practice 100 What makes aluminum a sustainable material for access?
EZ-ACCESS knows aluminum lasts the longest once it’s installed.
102 How can solar panels really improve projects? Q Cells’ latest innovations are both durable and cost-effective.
108 How do you design better flexible work environments?
Ambius explores how to build better workspaces using plant life.
110 Why should I care about flue gas venting? Experts say IPEX’s System 1738 PVC is reliable for its performance and convenience.
114 What do I need to know about R22? Hudson Technologies separates fact from fiction when it comes to refrigerants.
120 What is PURPLE gypsum board? National Gypsum shares the latest breakthroughs in gypsum products.
122 What should I know before specifying flame retardant fabric? GALE Pacific shares more about why it exceeded the testing threshold for flame retardant shade fabric.
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Industria
The architect’s key to infinite combinations Urban design possibilities are made limitless with Industria. It’s the only collection that offers the freedom to create truly unique industrial-grade spaces. Imaginative pavements are made easy, turning outdoor spaces into works of art at ground level. Request free samples at techo-bloc.com/industria/gbd
INSTITUTIONAL - COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL - RESIDENTIAL gb&d
Slabs - Pavers - Edges - Walls Caps - Steps - Outdoor Features summer 2020
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Contributors Green Building & Design gbdmagazine.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Christopher Howe
Zack Harold (“Talking About Regeneration”) is a multimedia specialist with the West Virginia University Extension Service Family Nutrition Program. He’s the former editor of WV Living and Wonderful West Virginia magazines and, before that, worked as a reporter and lifestyles editor at the Charleston Daily Mail newspaper in West Virginia’s capital city. In his spare time Zack enjoys traveling, learning to cook traditional Mexican food, and playing guitar with his band, The Sycomores. PG. 94
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Laura Heidenreich MANAGING EDITOR
Laura Rote ART DIRECTOR
Kristina Walton Zapata ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Julie Veternick ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Ciara Gomez, Isabel Ilbuga, Christian Van Epps EDITORIAL INTERNS
Lucy Miller, Jessica Mordacq, Jada Ward GRAPHIC DESIGNER INTERNS
Spencer McNabney
Hilary Daninhirsch (“What should I know before specifying flame retardant fabric?”) is an award-winning freelance writer. She has written hundreds of articles for lifestyle and B2B publications on a variety of topics. Hilary lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, two teenage daughters, and her 11-year-old dog of undetermined breed. When she’s not writing she can be found reading a book, taking a walk, or playing endless rounds of Words with Friends. PG. 122
CONTRIBUTORS
Eric Canan, Hilary Daninhirsch, Colleen DeHart, Cap Green, Zack Harold, David Miller, Margaret Poe, JoVona Taylor, Mike Thomas, Sarah Treleaven, Matt Watson MAIL
Green Building & Design 1765 N. Elston Ave., Suite 202 Chicago, IL 60642 Printed in the USA. © 2020 by Green Advocacy Partners, LLC. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. The Green Building & Design logo is a registered trademark of Green Advocacy Partners, LLC.
JoVona Taylor (“An Architect’s Guide to Linear Fireplaces”) is a multimedia journalist focusing on topics of culture, law, and social issues. Born and raised in the Midwest, Taylor obtained degrees in English and journalism from the University of Missouri in 2014. She went on to receive a master’s from Columbia Journalism School in 2016. Taylor currently lives in New York City. She is obsessed with finding the most breathtaking views of the city. You can follow her on Twitter at @jo_from_theGO.
Green Building & Design (gb&d) magazine is printed in the United States using only soy-based inks. Please recycle this magazine. The magazine is also available in digital formats at gbdmagazine.com/current-issue. Green Building & Design is a certified B Corp. B Corp is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk. B Corps are certified by the nonprofit BLab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
PG. 90
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Created By
We like to think a little change is a good thing. That’s why we’ve taken our tried and true pumice process and created an all NEW Linear Fireplace. With widths of up to 10 feet and choice of open or integrated glass front, our new gas-burning linear Isokern series allows a full range of customization. Between your choice of size, log set, glass or stone media and firebrick it’s sure to bring an elevated modern style to any space, no matter what you choose.
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Editors’ Note Share your comments on this issue. Tweet us @gbd_mag
H O W M O D E R N F O L D ’ S O P E R A B L E W A L L S M A K E B E A U T I F U L , F L E X I B L E W O R K S PA C E S , P. 3 2
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BRINGING WORK BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER Olson Kundig’s 9th & Thomas project in Seattle is home to office space and retail while being an anchor in the community. Photo by Nic Lehoux
5 Things We Learned During the Making of This Issue Mass timber doesn’t just make for beautiful buildings;
pivoted to focus on making products to address growing global needs. They launched the GALE GUARD™ brand with products like a reusable face mask with antimicrobial treated fabric and temporary shelters. GALE Pacific invented high density polyethylene (HDPE) shade fabrics in the 1970s and is a leading global manufacturer of advanced polymer fabrics. Visit galeguard. com for more info.
it stands up to fires and earthquakes, too. Hundreds of tests have proven that the structural integrity of mass timber elements is maintained longer than steel and concrete structures in a fire. As for earthquakes, mass timber structures have also proven more resilient than traditional steel and concrete structures, which are more likely to fail, or require demolition and reconstruction.
GALE PACIFIC, PG.
STRUCTURES,
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NORDIC PG. 16
In Seattle, the 12-story mixeduse 9th & Thomas building was designed to be a
Inspired by the Tyler Arboretum’s mission to use natural resources to teach,
neighborhood gathering place. Activated by retail and restaurant spaces, the public “living room” lobby is home to curated arts programming. The LEED Gold–certified building has an inviting street presence. Large, operable windows along the facade allow 9th & Thomas tenants to adapt to Seattle’s changing weather conditions, as they can control their spaces with natural ventilation and daylight. 9TH &
the primary exterior roof and wall material of its Classroom Building is terra-cotta—just like the baked earth terra-cotta flower pots you know and love from gardening. The Ludowici tiles are fired without glaze mixtures that would alter the natural brownish orange color. A small amount of surface texture was added prior to firing to create tiles capable of hosting airborne microorganisms, pollens, and mosses.
THOMAS, PG. 79
LUDOWICI, PG. 86
When one modernist couple wanted to break free from their residential development, they turned to Chapel Hill architect Arielle Condoret Schechter. They enlivened their house using large blocks of primary colors—a concept inspired by flags but also reminiscent of the Netherlands-based De Stijl movement of the early 1900s. The project includes triple glazed windows, a solar array on the roof, an energy recovery ventilator, fiber cement panel cladding, and more. PRIVACY
PHOTO: HALKIN MASON PHOTOGRAPHY
When COVID-19 put a strain on the nation’s PPE supply, GALE Pacific
HOUSE, PG. 124
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Harvest
Create
Design
Build
nordic.ca gb&d
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Editors’ Picks News
MKCA’s Micro Housing for Häfele
PHOTOS: ALAN TANSEY
The 12-by-16 feet you get in Michael K. Chen Architecture’s new unit design feels luxurious, as folding and sliding furniture transforms the room instantly. The entertainment center turns into a dining room table for six and a bar, so you don’t have to compromise entertaining friends and family. Even the fully functional kitchen—retractable faucet included—recedes to reveal a clean, streamlined countertop. This multi-functional unit allows for flexible living to satisfy a range of housing types. mkca.com
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PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY CREATING SMART ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
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https://www.q-cells.us
summer 2020
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NEWS
Skrabanja 3D Knitted Sofa
MADE IN THE
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PHOTO: COURTESY OF FLOOR SKRABANJA
Upholstery on a typical piece of furniture is cut, stitched, glued, and stapled around the frame, with all these manipulations making it impossible to reuse the fabric later. But Floor Skrabanja is using an unlikely skill to eliminate waste and make furniture materials more recyclable—knitting. Everything in this series of knitted furniture is comfortable and modern, and all pieces are made from a single thread of yarn. This allows the knitting to cover the furniture and still be used again in a different application down the road. The knitted upholstery becomes more than just a simple cover. Instead it’s a binding that keeps the elements together in a stylish, eco-friendly way. skrabanja.com
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With Halio Smart-Tinting Glass, you are in charge of how much sun gets into your home. The user-friendly cloud-based system can be accessed through an app, where you can control the tint levels of Halio’s electrochromic glass. The glass can alter its color quicker than any other. It lets in the right amount of daylight based on rapidly changing sky conditions. But shaping the light levels in your home is about more than aesthetics; it also helps you heat and cool your property to perfection and can be an added source of privacy. Halio Smart-Tinting Glass is a green answer to many of your home’s needs. kinestral.com
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Directory Interested in advertising? Contact Laura Heidenreich at laura@gbdmagazine.com for more information about advertising in our print magazine, online, and newsletter, as well as custom media.
Commercial ▪ Residential
Proud
Ambius
Ludowici
ambius.com 877.552.1865
ludowici.com 800.945.8453
APV Engineered Coatings
MDC Interior Solutions
apvcoatings.com 330.773.8911
mdcwall.com 847.437.4000
ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions
Modernfold, Inc.
assaabloydss.com 800.377.3948
modernfold.com 800.869.9685
Bentley Mills
National Gypsum Company
bentleymills.com 800.423.4709
nationalgypsum.com 704.365.7300
Binswanger Glass
Nordic Structures
binswangerglass.com 800.365.9922
nordic.ca/en/home 514.871.8526
Classic Displays
OnSite
classicdisplays.com 800.461.6635
theonsite.com Q CELLS
q-cells.us 949.748.5996
Digilock
digilock.com 800.989.0201 Earthcore Industries
Rmax – A Division of the Sika Corporation
earthcore.co 800.642.2920
rmax.com 972.850.3604
EZ-ACCESS
Roppe Corporation
ezaccess.com 800.258.8503
roppe.com 800.537.9527
Filtration Group HVAC
sagegreenlife
hvac.filtrationgroup.com 800.739.4600
sagegreenlife.com 312.234.9655
GALE Pacific, Ltd.
Sensera Systems
galecommercial.com 800.560.4667
senserasystems.com 800.657.0437
Hudson Technologies
hudsontech.com 845.512.6000
Warming Trends ®
warming-trends.com 877.556.5255
IPEX USA
system1738.com 800.463.9572
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PRODUCTS
5 Benefits of Designing with Engineered Wood Nordic Structures makes better buildings possible with mass timber. By Laura Rote
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has been possible in the past, and we’re not just turning it into fencing or furring strips. We turn it into mass timber components for large structural projects being built across North America. These are some of the benefits of building with engineered wood.
Sustainable.
Waste is eliminated by mass timber. Every piece of engineered wood that arrives on a job site is integrated into the building because you know from the start what you need, which also reduces dumpster fees and waste remediation. Air quality is improved, considering these mass timber components are manufactured without using formaldehyde-based glues, and Nordic products are Red List–free, making them ideal for LEED and Living Building projects. Exposed mass timber elements also contribute to the biophilic response in humans, as studies show reduced stress and heart rates in these environments. They’re carbon negative, too, as they encapsulate one ton of carbon dioxide in every cubic meter of wood for the life of the building. Buildings made of mass timber can be deconstructed at the end of their life cycle and re-utilized rather than sent to the landfill.
Flexible design.
Buildings made of mass timber can be modified more readily to adapt to changing market dynamics. The best designs are made possible in part because Nordic Structures has its own design office with more than 50 employees in Montreal dedicated to design, engineering, and drafting. “We build the materials in the computer first
In Quebec Arbora was the largest complex in the world built from massive timber when it was finished. The 597,560-square-foot project has more than 130 condominiums, 30 townhouses, and 272 rental units. This development distinguishes itself with 40% of its area dedicated to green space, and it has achieved LEED Platinum status.
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PHOTO BY ADRIEN WILLIAMS
Eight hours drive north of Montreal lies a vast boreal forest with acres upon acres of black spruce trees dotted with peat bogs. There the founders of Nordic Structures’ parent company Chantiers Chibougamau saw an opportunity to make better building products while maintaining the longevity of the forests they were harvesting. It was in these woods that the masterminds at the Quebec-based mass timber company developed a way to not only minimize waste, but to also promote growth of new trees that absorb more carbon dioxide than those that are past their prime. Jean-Marc Dubois, director of business development USA for Nordic Structures, explains the process. “It takes 80 years for those trees to achieve peak maturity, and they’ve got a 40-year window during which they’re viable before dying,” Dubois says. “The average diameter of these trees is only four-and-a-half inches, which is very small when compared to much larger and longer lived southern yellow pine or Douglas fir, the other primary species for manufacturing mass timber components like glulam beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. You have to think differently when you only have such a meager resource to work with if you want to elevate a product to its best and highest use.” But Nordic Structures (a family-run business founded in 1961) is a known innovator, and better building materials are possible because of it. They use component pieces as small as three-quarters of an inch by an inch-and-a-half by 24 inches long as well as the tree tips. “To other people that would be considered waste that either gets left in the forest or gets chipped and thrown away,” Dubois says. “We’re extracting nearly 20% more yield from the same trees than
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and then manufacture the product to the design,” Dubois says. “We can build a large structure and be more accurate than a traditionally framed structure. That accuracy comes from multiple design iterations, as that process is fully CAD driven in the modeling phase.” The Nordic team can find any structural inconsistencies or areas of concerns early— before construction starts. “You eliminate errors and you’re putting together a model kit with instructions. Every piece is numbered, and every piece has its place on the job.” Millimeter precise CNC finished material greatly reduces the need for onsite
adjustments. “When you’re building with steel and concrete, many times the designs are not completely finalized when construction starts.”
Fast construction.
“Fast construction is predicated on good design to begin with,” Dubois says. With mass timber you’re not building onsite with saws, hammers, and nails. You already have the large precise panels ready to go. “Panel wall manufacturers improved the product stream and reduced waste by taking those components and building them in a factory ahead of time. We do the same with all the gbdmagazine.com
PHOTO BY JC BUCK
“It’s important to respond to what clients want while also finding the most economical system that meets their needs,” says Chris Kendall, principal at KL&A, Inc. “We did an extraordinary number of studies on Platte 15 to confirm that we had both. I would argue that we could not have been any more efficient with the CLT for Platte 15 (pictured, above).”
PRODUCTS
elements that comprise the structure.” Construction is fast, quiet, and exact, as the design was solidified in advance. This speed typically reduces project time by 30 to 50%. Construction is simple; assemble using conventional hand tools, fasteners, and connections. That also means you need less people onsite—less than 10 compared to as many as 40 on a concrete job. “From a work safety standpoint, having less people on the job is pretty impactful, but then we’re also in a labor crisis, so the fact that you can build these structures more quickly with less people is a better use of overall manpower, and it’s a very learnable skill.” Consistent wood supplies also reduce or eliminate jobsite delays due to unforeseen raw material supply constraints common to steel and concrete availability.
High performance.
Timber is an insulator, as compared to steel and concrete, both of which are thermally conductive, and mass timber has the added benefit of thermal mass and thermal inertia. Buildings built with mass timber require less energy to heat and cool and maintain their temperature more readily, making for a more comfortable working and living environment. The development team behind Platte 15, a five-story project and Denver’s first cross-laminated timber building, couldn’t have been more pleased with their decision to work with Nordic Structures. “This building will store 1,790 metric tons of carbon dioxide within the wood. Another 3,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions will be avoided for a total potential carbon benefit of 5,580 metric tons,” says Conrad Suszynski, co-CEO of Crescent Real Estate. “We have proven wood is a cost-viable, sustainable structural option with regenerative benefits for mid-rise commercial construction. That’s a genuine evolution, and that’s a big deal.”
Cost-effective.
PHOTO, ABOVE, BY DCI ENGINEERING. BELOW, JADRIEN WILLIAMS
“People think about cost per square foot without looking at the holistic impact in the overall projects,” Dubois says. Wood’s lighter footprint can help reduce foundation size, and since the large panels delivered to sites are lighter than precast concrete, mass timber may allow for larger structures in areas with low compacted or remediated soil conditions. The architects at Platte 15 indicated that working with engineered wood saved time, and time, of course, saves money. “The mass timber was precisely engineered prefabricated using CNC machines,” says Joe Anastasi, senior associate at OZ Architecture. “This level of precision helped improve delivery speed and construction time and eliminated a significant amount of waste.” gb&d gb&d
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Here are five reasons to consider APV Engineered Coatings’ NeverFade ® line for your project. By Colleen DeHart gb&d
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An exterior coating job that resists fading. A structure that needs no annual pressure washing to maintain its appearance. A finish that holds up to the harshest climates. It’s all possible with APV Engineered Coatings. “The two primary functions of a typical architectural coating are aesthetics and protection of the exterior facade of the building,” says Mike Couchie, vice president of sales and marketing at APV. “With our NeverFade® line of facade restoration coatings, we took those needs and raised the bar.” Engineering coatings are nothing new for APV. It’s what they’ve been doing for 142 years—designing custom finishes for a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, architecture, and the armed forces. The company is so confident in its prod-
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ucts it offers a 15-year color fade warranty— it’s non-prorated and includes product and labor—on its popular NeverFade line. The sustainable coatings are specially formulated with Kynar Aquatec®, the high-performance PVDF polymer engineered by Arkema, making them uniquely UV-resistant. The life of a building’s facade can be extended by 30-plus years when NeverFade is applied, and that’s just one of the benefits. Here are more.
The Legacy Sculpture in Jupiter, Florida (above, left) was treated using APV’s W-1650 Bonding Primer and various custom colors of NeverFade topcoat. The Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options building (above, right) in Sunrise, Florida included APV’s W-1500 Universal Primer and a custom orange NeverFade topcoat.
They’re easy to apply.
The coatings can be sprayed, brushed, or rolled onto an exterior surface. “It used to be that the only way to get a Kynar-based finish was to have it factory-applied onto metal and baked at temperatures of 400°. gbdmagazine.com
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APV Engineered Coatings used 15 custom colors of NeverFade topcoats at the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya in Colorado (pictured here and on previous spread).
This eliminated any type of field application and restricted most substrate materials to which it can be applied. Vinyl, composites, and other types of building materials can’t take that kind of temperature,” Couchie says. “NeverFade allows you to get the same performance in a field-applied and air-dried coating. You can apply it to virtually any kind of material without the need for high baking temperatures.” The NeverFade coatings come in two main topcoat formulations. The NeverFade Original can be used on wood, vinyl, masonry, stucco, EFIS, fiber cement, and concrete. NeverFade Metal Restoration can be used on all types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
They’re customizable.
There is no need to compromise on design with NeverFade. The products come in 20 standard colors from dark earthy tones to bright eye-catching hues. If those aren’t what you’re looking for, APV can match any color, even metallics. “It’s rare for a field-applied coating that can be brushed and roller-applied to be offered in a metallic option. They are tricky to achieve a factory-like aesthetic, but we have engineered the rheology of the formulation to flow and level as it’s curing for a very uniform finish,” Couchie says. Looking for a topcoat that matches your company logo? No problem. The APV team can custom color match any sample chip or gb&d
Pantone color—think office buildings, storefronts, hotels, hospitals, and more.
They’re environmentally friendly. APV’s NeverFade products are water-based, meeting air quality and emission requirements for VOCs in all areas, including SCAQMD rule 1113. “The feedback has been tremendous, as most are surprised with the coatings’ lack of odor and the fact that it’s water-based,” Couchie says. “On restoration projects like these, the challenge for property owners is to minimize the impact to the tenants. We’ve painted a number of hotels, condominiums, and office buildings while they were fully occupied with no disruption to business.” APV has long been committed to producing environmentally conscious products and sourcing responsibly. Its research and development team will engineer or custom develop formulations to meet EPA restrictions or other environmental concerns.
They’re resistant to mold and mildew.
Being unaffected by UV rays has other benefits, too. UV energy causes coatings to break down, erode, and chalk. The chalky surface is a food source for mold and mildew to grow. The Kynar polymer in NeverFade does not break down under these conditions, so it’s naturally resistant to this harmful growth. “NeverFade also has a very low sur-
face energy. So other sources for bacteria growth, such as dirt, does not accumulate on the surface. It’s very difficult for things to stick to it,” Couchie says. The coating is essentially self-cleaning. Dirt and debris may adhere to the surface for a short time, but once it rains it washes right off. No pressure washing needed. “It’s a big time and cost-saver,” he says.
They’re durable.
Climate conditions can have a big impact on a building’s facade. Strong winds, intense heat, frigid winters, high humidity, atmospheric pollutants, and other factors can cause coatings to scratch, chip, and degrade. That’s not an issue with NeverFade. The coatings are highly durable. In addition to UV rays, they’re resistant to abrasion, chemicals, and salt spray. APV uses the example of a house on the Gulf Coast on Sanibel Island, Florida that was restored with NeverFade. After several hurricanes and 10 years later, the coating is still perfectly preserved on the facade. “Our coatings are more flexible than other high performance architectural coatings, such as acrylics, polyurethanes, powder coatings, etc.,” Couchie says. “The advantage of that is when you have something impacting the surface, such as wind driven sand or debris, NeverFade absorbs some of the impact instead of allowing it to abrade through the coating.” gb&d summer 2020
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5 Benefits of Jobsite Monitoring Systems Sensera’s solar-powered solutions offer up a comprehensive solution for anyone in construction. By Matt Watson
In the not-so-distant past, jobsite monitoring systems were primarily used to capture grainy time-lapse videos of construction sites that developers often used for marketing. Although the need was there, a number of obstacles prevented their widespread adoption for additional use cases in the construction industry. “The cameras were expensive, difficult to install, and required an array of additional hardware to implement on-site,” says David Gaw, founder and CEO of Sensera Systems. After interviewing general contractors and identifying technological solutions to these pain points, Sensera Systems launched its first product in 2014 and quickly grew to become North America’s leading manufacturer of solar-powered jobsite monitoring systems. The company’s suite of products utilizes wireless LTE and cloud technology, creating a comprehensive solution for all verticals within the construction industry. By integrating with Autodesk BIM 360, Procore, and PlanGrid, Sensera’s jobsite monitoring systems offer contractors a number of crucial benefits.
1. Multi-Functional
Sensera’s portfolio of jobsite cameras, powered by its SiteCloud platform, offers a one-stop shop where users can monitor the progress of a project, collaborate across teams, and improve jobsite safety through livestream video. “We’ve been on the forefront of adding capabilities to our monitoring systems while educating the market on the potential for additional use cases,” Gaw says. Listening to contractors has been critical to this progress. In one example, Gaw explains that contractors identified the need for higher resolution cameras to better cap-
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PHOTO: COURTESY OF SENSERA SYSTEMS
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Sensera Systems’ products allow contractors to mitigate risks like workplace injury with advanced monitoring and high-resolution footage on the job site.
ture workplace incidents or allow managers to track the finer details of a project. From there Sensera developed the PTZ500, which features ultra-high resolution capabilities and on-demand pan-tilt-zoom to view granular details on large sites. “Now managers are able to remotely zoom in far enough to read the bolt heads on a beam,” he says.
2. Risk Management
One of the top priorities for contractors is to mitigate the risk of workplace injury and improve safety standards by learning from incidents that do occur. “With Sensera’s monitoring systems, contractors can review high-resolution video footage of a workplace incident, determine root cause and any corrective action, and bolster training to prevent future incidents,” Gaw says.
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Managers can also better identify potential risks before an injury occurs. Because of this, insurance companies are beginning to promote the use of jobsite monitoring systems as a way to reduce liability on construction sites. “The general legal environment is such that, if there was a reasonable way you could have reduced liability and didn’t, then you inherit that liability,” Gaw says. In the future, this could lead to a reduction in insurance premiums for contractors who utilize jobsite monitoring systems.
3. Environmental Sustainability
Sensera’s jobsite monitoring systems are powered by small solar panels that integrate with lithium iron phosphate batteries, helping to reduce power consumption
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These jobsite monitoring solutions can be installed in as little as 20 minutes and offer serious peace of mind, as you can livestream video for up-to-date information on any project.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SENSERA SYSTEMS
to about one-tenth of comparable systems. Utilizing WiFi and 4G/LTE also eliminates the need for connective materials that would otherwise go to waste once the project is completed. “With traditional jobsite cameras, contractors have to dig trenches in order to run direct power lines to the devices, which creates an additional disruption to the jobsite,” Gaw says. “With Sensera’s cameras, there’s no need to put in power poles or run conduit.” This helps contractors reduce both their energy and material consumption.
4. Increased Transparency
Large construction projects like skyscrapers or stadiums are the work of numerous stakeholders across a variety of verticals—including engineers, architects, and developers. To successfully execute such a colossal gb&d
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undertaking, collaboration across all teams is key. “Our cameras allow busy managers to monitor the progress of a project from any device, anywhere in the world,” Gaw says. “This type of transparency helps general contractors have a better relationship with their customers.” With tools like the MC88 16MP camera, owners can livestream 1080P video for real-time information on their project.
5. Easy to Use
Even the best performing jobsite cameras can cause friction and unnecessary headaches for contractors. “Project teams are there to build a building, not mess with camera equipment, so contractors value the simplicity of our solution,” Gaw says. Sensera’s monitoring solutions are lightweight and easy to install; Gaw says one person can install a system in 20 minutes. gb&d summer 2020
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An Expert’s Guide
to Superior Urban Design for Bicycles By Jessica Mordacq
Cycling isn’t typically the first thing to come to mind when thinking of Canada—on average, Montreal itself gets about 83 inches of snow each year. But the city also established the North America’s first bike lane in the 1980s, and more than half of people who live there bike at least once a week, according to a report released by Vélo Québec for the City of Montreal. Canada’s largest city, Toronto, isn’t much different. “More people are riding bikes here than ever before, and in some Toronto neighborhoods, more than 30% of people are regularly hopping on their bikes,” says Becky Katz, manager of cycling and pedestrian projects for the City of Toronto. In 1977 Wayne Tucker started Classic Displays, an outdoor enhancement company that provides everything from holiday displays to site furniture and, since the ’90s, biking site furniture. Classic Displays works closely with cities across Canada and the US to improve urban design for cyclers as biking flourishes. From 2007 to 2016 alone, bike commuters doubled in the US’s 50 largest cities, according to the PeopleForBikes Foundation. “Toronto already has more than 600 lane kilometers of on-street cycling routes and nearly 350 kilometers of multi-use trails, and we expect to add about 120 lane kilometers of new cycling routes by 2021,” Katz says. “TransformTO, the City’s climate action strategy, aims to have 75% of all trips under 5 kilometers to be taken by bike and foot by 2050.” We recently talked to Tucker about Classic Displays’ work with Toronto and others to improve cyclists safety.
Classic Displays’ bike racks come in a variety of colors and can hold anywhere from two to 26 bicycles.
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How Do Lane Separators Make Cycling Safer?
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF CLASSIC DISPLAYS
Classic Displays offers six types of reflective lane separators with varying dimensions to accommodate various traffic amounts. “People like to get out to see the environment, but they’re afraid to get on a bike on a city street. There’s too much traffic, too much danger, too much stress, so they stay home,” Tucker says. “Allowing people to ride into a safe environment not only gets them to ease the stress, it allows them to exercise. It allows them to socialize.” The company also offers three types of bollards with wayfinding stickers. Bollards and lane separators are environmentally friendly products made with recycled components, and they help to protect bicyclists. “You can’t just drive safely down a lane, on a road, with a painted lane. It doesn’t protect you. It doesn’t make a driver aware there are bikers,” Tucker says. Adding bollards and lane separators to bike paths allows for increased biker visibility—and biker relaxation when they know they’re well protected.
What Else Should be Considered in Urban Design? Of course, with an increase in biking comes an increased need for secure bicycle parking. Classic Displays’ 14 bike rack designs can hold anywhere from two to 26 bicycles. The designs vary in height, and some allow for double gb&d
stacking or wall mounting. “City staff As bikes become more popular, Amerapproach the placement of these facilicans and Canadians alike seem to be ities with an eye toward comleaving their cars behind in an plementing and enhancing effort to improve their health. the surrounding public space,” “People have to have another Katz says. “That’s because pracway to get around, a healthier Classic Displays tical things like bike rings and way, but most importantly, a also has a variety of racks can also be appealing to safe way,” Tucker says. “You bollards and lane separator solutions look at and functional at the get great exercise and have to make bikers and same time.” a great day with your family drivers feel safer. The City of Toronto is makriding safely. You’re getting ing room for more bikes, too. stronger and healthier.” Part of their building code Classic Displays designs states that, in residences like with the mission to provide apartments and condos, one bicycle quality products that improve comparking space must be provided per munities. “From an environmental dwelling unit. As of 2016 more than standpoint, from a health standpoint, 17,000 bike rings were positioned from a socialization standpoint, biking throughout Toronto. is the new way to experience a healthier life,” Tucker says. In designing bike lane separators, bollards, and parking structures, Classic Displays strives to get people outside to enjoy their environment. “If my designs can get more people biking, more people socializing, and help make a healthier community, I’m going to be a happy guy. I’ll go cycling into the future very content,” Tucker says. gb&d
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An Expert’s Guide
to Operable Walls By Matt Watson
With the demand for flexible commercial office space on the rise, the market for operable wall systems has responded with technological innovations and a wider range of options than ever. “Movable walls are fundamental to creating a dynamic, flexible workspace,” says Bryan Welch, managing director at Modernfold, Inc., the world’s largest producer of operable walls. Trends in the commercial real estate market— from telecommuting to daylighting—have caused office tenants to rethink how they utilize and build out spaces. Modernfold has been well positioned to respond to these shifts. Founded in 1925, the firm helped pioneer the accordion wall partition for schools and churches. In 1939 its movable walls were featured in model homes at the New York World’s Fair. “From there we transitioned to the commercial space, and our products have always set the bar for the industry,” Welch says. By focusing on digitalization and responding to the needs of its large customer base, Modernfold today offers an extensive portfolio of operable walls. “Our mission has always been to make space solutions smart and easy,” Welch says. The company has helped transition the industry from manual partitions to fully automated systems, and continues to educate the market on the many benefits of operable walls.
The Modernfold DRS glass wall system offers dry glaze sidelite rails to match door profiles, plus a complete range of bottom rails to meet ADA requirements. This system is available with a sliding panel closure or a pivot panel closure.
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sees continued demand for its movable walls in schools, convention centers, large restaurants, and hotels. “In each of these verticals, flexibility is key to [an organization’s] success.”
• Workplace Flexibility
Movable wall concepts give architects and interior designers the freedom to create a space that works for any client. “We view our movThe Acousti-Clear able wall prodAcoustical Glass Wall System offers ucts as the key the latest in space to allow the conmanagement and figuration of the room design, with space to facilithe sleek aesthetics tate what’s goof aluminum and ing on in a given glass and the highly day,” Welch says. desired sound separation. For example, if a company is having a large brainstorming session in the morning followed by small group breakaway sessions, Modernfold’s movable wall systems allow for a quick transition between multi-room setups. The partitions run on the firm’s SmartTrack® programmable suspension system, which offers two uniquely engineered solutions. The Switch & Curve® Smart Track provides multi-program capabilities that reduce setup costs and operational error, and is ideal for panels larger than 20 feet. For a grid pattern setup that utilizes shorter panels, the Right Angle track is the preferred solution.
Why Movable Walls? As companies across the corporate spectrum reduce the physical footprints of their offices, movable walls have become the go-to solution for commercial tenants looking for flexibility. The trend toward open office layouts has only increased the demand for operable wall solutions. “We really believe
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the workspace needs to facilitate the success of the business or organization,” Welch says. “Their space needs to help them achieve their mission.” Welch says several factors drive the move toward flexible workspaces. “For starters, space costs money. The more efficiently you’re using your workplace, the more you can reduce costs on unused space.” Environmental factors are also a driving force. “In terms of the energy used to heat, cool, and illuminate an office, a smaller, flexible space reduces the burden on the environment,” he adds. In addition to the commercial office market, Welch says Modernfold
The reduction in space-per-employee in many offices means acoustic controls are more important than ever. “With workers often in close quarters today, the need for privacy has increased,” Welch says. “If you’re having a confidential conversation or taking an important client call, you’re going to need to be confident about the acoustics of your space.” Modernfold’s operable partition systems lead the industry in acoustic control without sacrificing aesthetic quality. In fact, the company’s best-selling product, the Acousti-Seal® Encore®, offers an unprecedented 56 STC, or sound transmission class—a metric for how well a partition impedes airborne sound. This makes it an ideal tool for creating quiet rooms or one-onone meeting spaces.
• Complete Automation
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MODERNFOLD
• Increased Acoustic Control
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Movable walls allow room sizes to be tailored to various events.
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The DRS design also allows for snap-on covers, as well as onsite size adjustability and glass replacement.
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a versatile tool for creating dynamic spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and, with up to 51 STC, provide necessary acoustic controls in any workplace. The Acousti-Clear model can also be equipped with MorphGlas® technology, a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal that transforms the glass walls from clear to opaque with the click of a button.
What are the Best Options for Movable Walls? • Operable Partitions
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MODERNFOLD
Equipped with their proprietary Acousti-Seal technology, which offers the highest level of acoustic control, Modernfold’s operable partitions are the most versatile solution for interior space configuration. The firm’s Paired Panel Systems, where panels are paired in groups of two for a quick and convenient setup, are well suited for creating flexible meeting spaces within an office setting. For complex layouts, Modernfold’s Single Panel Systems provide a wide range of design possibilities. “You don’t have to compromise to fit into your space,” Welch says. “We equip you with the flexibility to work around any obstacle.” technical solution available in the market. With the ability to pre-program a variety of layouts, users can rearrange a space to their needs at the touch of a button. “If you have a small group finishing a meeting in a room, and a larger group coming in next, the first group simply needs to hit a button and the wall will open and store itself, easily expanding the meeting space,” Welch says. The system is conveniently operated through a user-friendly touchpad, while the sophisticated system automatically guides the panels into place.
• What is Daylighting?
Daylighting is the illumination of interior spaces by natural light, with the goal of reducing energy use while gb&d
• Glass Wall Systems
improving the aesthetics of the space. Movable glass wall systems are ideal for “Daylighting is becoming a bigger large offices where sunlight normally topic in commercial building wouldn’t reach the interior of design,” Welch says. “Our custhe space. For those who plan tomers want privacy while still on changing spatial configuraallowing natural sunlight into tions frequently, Modernfold’s The Acousti-Clear a room.” Because of this, comComfortDrive ® Automated Glass Wall Systems mercial designers have graviSelf-Driving Panel System alcan be motorized, tated toward the simplicity of lows users to pre-program a automatic, and glass movable wall solutions. variety of positions under fully demountable. You automatic control. For clients can use • Versatile Glass that require additional privamultiple AcoustiClear products Solutions cy in their space, the Acouswithin the same Modernfold’s glass wall systi-Clear line of movable glass space and add tems operate at the intersecwalls is available in three varicustom finishes. tion of form and function, ations—motorized, automatic, allowing daylight farther and demountable. “Whatever into the center of an office. your needs, the glass wall sysIts Acousti-Clear® glass walls present tems offer the added benefit of a clean, architects and interior designers with sleek aesthetic,” Welch says. gb&d summer 2020
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An Expert’s Guide to
Wallcoverings
By Colleen DeHart
Light-bending metallics. Intricate fabrics. Bold colors. Timeless wood grains. Deep texture. The options for transforming walls or ceilings are vast when you work with MDC Interior Solutions. “These spaces are a blank canvas where you can design extraordinary spaces,” says Dan Brandt, director of product and marketing for the Chicago-based company. A world leader in interior wall designs, the MDC family has been making statements with wall coverings of all kinds for almost 50 years. The company’s roots began as a family business and remained that way until just last year, and family values are still evident in the way MDC does business. “We pride ourselves in giving a personal touch. No matter where a customer is located, we have MDC professionals in every major metropolitan area, ready to assist with the specifying firm or onsite at the project,” Brandt says. “We want to act in a consulting role, making sure projects have the right materials and are used effectively.” That also means staying up on the latest trends. “The industry is always changing, and it’s incredibly exciting to supply the materials to transform these unbelievable spaces,” he says. A decade ago MDC introduced its Dimension Walls collection. It’s been used to turn ordinary spaces into works of art ever since, with its vast array of deep textures and exceptional finishes.
This MDC Interior Solutions project uses Square in Burnished Brushstroke from the Dimension Walls collection.
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How Do Wall Coverings Make Design Flexible?
What about Brand Customization? Wallcoverings are liked among designers in the restaurant, hospitality, corporate, and health care industries and used to make a signature statement. “In the past we wanted walls to blend in; now we have the ability to come up
with something extraordinarily visual to match a brand identity,” Brandt says. Clients turn to MDC for bold designs to become a piece of art on their walls, often combining metallics with lighting to create shadows. “It is very dramatic looking.” MDC designers also work with companies to incorporate brand logos and colors into the panels. “It’s a subtle little reminder to visitors,” Brandt says. When one popular fast-food chain went to them, MDC designers turned a scan of the restaurant’s hamburger boxes into a unique texture to line the
It’s about complementing your vision, not overtaking it. That’s why MDC makes Dimension Walls panels to order. Clients can choose from more than 70 textures and 46 finishes—solid colors, metallics, wood grains, fabrics, painted metals, and more. “We offer a great deal of design flexibility. Designers looking to specify clean architectural spaces often select our high gloss white, allowing the true nature of the texture to speak for itself,” Brandt says. Wallcoverings are a cost-effective solution for spaces that operate with short-term leases. “We’re seeing end users select decorative materials that are budget-friendly without sacrificing aesthetics. Many spaces are going from 10-year leases to three and people are looking at creative ways to enhance shorter term spaces,” he says. Dimension Walls panels are listed at $5.99 per square foot—five times less than many other deeply textured options. And a little can go a long way. The panels can add elegance and dramatic appeal to any project. MDC panWayfind from els are highly MDC comes in 40 durable, makstandard colors ing them ideal with a two-sheet minimum. for any wall or Custom colors are ceiling loca available with an tion, even in 80-sheet minimum, high-traffic arand MDC can also eas. “When you be contacted for have a specialcustom designs. ized, beautiful finish there is always concern over abuse potential,” Brandt says. “This product can go anywhere. The panels can be touched and interacted with without concern over longterm wear.” They’re a popular feature in restaurants underneath the bar, too. The panels will last for years and are easy to maintain in commercial settings.
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walls of its corporate offices. “We can take anything from a line drawing, camera-ready art, or logo and put it into the actual texture. The options are endless.” Customized panels have a six-week turn around.
How Do I Install MDC Dimension Walls?
PHOTO: COURTESY OF MDC INTERIOR SOLUTIONSS
The panels are often referred to as an “installer’s dream.” They are lightweight and can be easily rolled up and shipped directly to a job site—no heavy crates or dock entrance necessary. A single installer can cut the panels with a utility knife and glue them to MDC Dimension the wall using a Walls panels are contact adhesive, highly durable, making them ideal minimizing disfor high-traffic ruption. “It’s as areas. They’re a quick and easy popular feature to install as any in restaurants, other wallcoverhospitality, and ing would be,” commercial Brandt says. settings, too. When used on a ceiling, the panels can be glued or dropped directly into the ceiling grid, making them an ideal solution for renovating a space. Other options for adhering the panels are available. MDC consultants work with installers to determine the best solution for each project.
What Sustainable Offerings are Out There? If you’re looking for environmentally gb&d
friendly options for your project that don’t slack on performance or aesthetics, MDC can help. The company also has panels made from 50% recycled content and 40 non-PVC finishes, including many of the same options as its traditional line, including metallics. “There is no visual change in the end product. That is part of what we love
about it,” Brandt says. The recycled, non-PVC panels are slightly more expensive at $6.99 per square foot, but they’re important. “Anytime we can minimize our impact, recycle, and improve our process, it’s a win,” Brandt says. “We are always looking for new and innovative ideas. It’s part of our culture.” gb&d summer 2020
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An Expert’s Guide
to Sustainable Flooring By Laura Rote It’s not easy manufacturing in California, where companies are held to higher standards and regulations are among the most stringent in the US. “California has never backed down from their environmental initiatives, and we follow in those same footsteps,” says David Turkes, director of sustainability for Bentley Mills, a luxury sustainable flooring brand since 1979. Bentley Mills was the first manufacturing facility in the US to be LEED-certified, and their carpet products continue to be produced in California, earning them a number of certifications and green labels. Today they have new products in a range of colors across commercial projects, from the new “non-solid solid” Color Core to the multi-faceted and textured Off the Chain. “Sustainability has been an integral part of who we are as a company since day one,” Turkes says. “Being able to identify the needs of the client, create a durable and long-lasting product, and find ways to mitigate and minimize the effects of manufacturing is something we strive for on a daily basis. Whether it’s participating in the creation of new standards, identifying new equipment and technologies, or implementing strategic changes in our processes, these are just some of the ways we look at all pieces of the puzzle.”
Bentley Mills incorporates Type 6 Nylon into its products for its resiliency, stain resistance, fade resistance, and color fastness.
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What’s New in Sustainable Flooring? One of Bentley’s newest products is Color Core, a “non-solid solid” available in broadloom or tile that’s the kind of offering every project needs, according to Ginger Gilbert, vice president of product design and development at Bentley Mills. Color Core’s contrasting but com-
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plementary yarn components in traditional reds, blues, browns, and grays subtly expose a more complex identity as they emerge and retreat throughout the carpet, giving specifiers color and interest without distracting from other elements in a space. “When you’re dealing with color you need to look at it from an architect’s standpoint. What are they doing with their upholstery or graphics on the walls? If they are going to use purple they’re going to use it on the wall, so we’re going to use it very sparingly or as a grayed out version,” Gilbert says. Gilbert also points to studies that show spaces with nicer finishes and flooring tend to be more cared for by the people who use them. “Keeping that in mind, people do need to use
flooring to define the space. There are so many things going on right now with acoustics, lighting, different ceiling elements, so having the carpet and the ceiling really there to capture the noise so all these spaces can have different functions if they need to is important,” she says. “As far as aesthetics, we’ll always have patterns, but we will continue to do what Bentley’s always done and have these really beautiful, luxurious textures that create depth and visual warmth.” She says Color Core came about because people were asking for accents; they wanted to do areas of color, but they didn’t want pattern and color to compete. They Color Core’s wanted a non-solcontrasting but id solid that could complementary go in areas accomyarn components panied by pops of give specifiers color. “We’re helpcolor without ing them define distracting from other elements in space with color.” a space. Color Core also harkens back to an old-school flat weave style that’s back in demand. “Everybody wants that look right now,” Gilbert says. Off the Chain—with its more textural, almost sweater-like feel—is another new environmentally friendly Bentley product. “Off the Chain is based on embroidery and chain stitching,” Gilbert says. “We were looking at knitting and work done by hand. We wanted to create a feel that was fairly low in ounce weight but that also brought a feeling of warmth into a space.” She says that’s especially important considering how more buildings are dominated by glass but also living walls. “Plants are coming back into spaces,” she says. “They’re a design element we need to work with, creating more textures versus patterns where people are trying to mimic the outside. We’re supporting the outside in bringing that texture and warmth to a space.”
How Can Flooring Really be Sustainable? Fiber is the most important element of Bentley’s products. “We are big believers in Type 6 Nylon,” Gilbert says. What gbdmagazine.com
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makes this fiber so special? Resiliency, stain resistance, fade resistance, and color fastness, to name a few things. Bentley partnered with Universal Fibers to create the 6.6 nylon fiber that makes Color Core sustainable. “We found a fiber we could use to really make a difference in all of our products,” Gilbert says. “A lot of times you create a fiber and it can only be used on a certain machine, but that’s what’s so great about Color Core. The fiber used there we can use anywhere. It helps us get products to the right price point while maintaining the high performance.” People don’t often think of Bentley when they think of value products, Gilbert says, but Color Core allows them to stay true to their mission of luxury while offering an affordable solution. “We’re able to keep what people love about Bentley—the aesthetic, the performance, the quality,” she says. “We didn’t want to sacrifice that because I know a lot of people who specify Bentley say they’ve had it for years, and that’s really important. In the end the carpet has to stay on the floor for a while to not be a nuisance to the world.” How Bentley uses the Type 6 Nylon fiber is another thing, and Gilbert says the manufacturing process is almost militant. At first that might frustrate designers, she says, but ultimately it’s fulfilling. “Maybe it’s because we’re in California. It’s a different mentality. If something doesn’t meet our standards, we go back to the drawing board. We’re going to find a way to make it work,” she says of the three-person in-house design team. “We’re putting out a product that really performs, and we’re using components and machines differently now. In some cases it’s because that’s where the industry is taking us. In other cases, that’s what we need to do.” “We wanted to do Turkes says something different C a l i fo r n i a ’ s with the fiber and manufacturcreate a onefiber product that ing sector is had personality,” held to some Gilbert says. It’s this of, if not the complexity that allows most stringent Color Core to easily regulations blend with other in the world. products while still “We’ve seen being bold. how changes have made positive impacts—whether it be in air quality, water quality, resource conservation, energy consumption and efficiency, or infrastructure changes,” he says. “As we’ve been operating in this state since 1979, we’ve adapted and grown with the state in these goals and aspirations, and we gb&d
continue to meet and exceed each regulatory standard that has been created.” This way of thinking is, slowly but surely, part of an overall shift in society, Turkes says. “Whether it’s through new state legislation opportunities or the thought process regarding material selection, we’ve been part of creating that shift in how products are constructed, how they can be best suited to meet institutional or individual requirements, and ensuring scientific backed methodologies continue to drive positive change for all involved stakeholders in our manufacturing process.”
How Does Bentley Approach Design? Bentley’s tight-knit design department—three people in a company of nearly 400—is constantly collaborating
and looking for ways to innovate. “We have a thing called ‘Observations,’” Gilbert says. “I can’t stand the word trends, so we call it observations.” On any given day Gilbert and another designer may be on the phone well into the evening talking about things that inspire them—a color, a fabric, something someone saw in nature—and assigning them to buckets like “fashion” or “nature” so they can review the ideas as a group later. “We do that instead of planning meetings where it’s like, ‘Everybody be creative right now,’ which is not possible for creative people,” she says. Instead, once they have some great ideas, they print several of the best images and leave them around to gather feedback. “We collectively start eliminating things we don’t like or that we’ve seen before. Then we have a meeting, and the three of us will sit down and talk about the patterns we keep gravitating to. If we’re all three gravitating with that collective gut feeling of ‘This is the right thing to do,’ that drives us,” Gilbert says. It’s a process that allows everyone on the team to have ownership. “Our culture here is really a collaborative culture. We’re open to every idea.” gb&d
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An Expert’s Guide to
Outdoor Fire
By Jessica Mordacq
“What we’ve learned is that, instinctively, people are drawn to fire,” says Voni Flaherty, the owner of Warming Trends. The Denver area company, which Flaherty owns with her husband Tim, designs and manufactures gas fire features for outdoor spaces. No matter how unusual a custom project idea may be—they’re currently developing a burner system to spell a client’s last name in fire—Warming Trends strives to ring its customers’ visions to life in flames. With design, engineering, and production all under one roof, the company can quickly turn around custom projects with the best quality and performance in the market.
Residential and commercial developers alike are increasingly incorporating fire features into their projects, according to the experts at Warming Trends.
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PHOTO: COURTESY OF JIM BURESH CONSTRUCTION CO.
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Why Warming Trends? Most burners on the market use lightweight steel tubing with hundreds of holes drilled in them. These burners create a low pressure flame. Warming Trends’ patented CROSSFIRE burners create significantly more pressure and turbulence at the point of ignition. This combination results in a taller, more robust flame that replicates the fullness and color of a wood fire. Not only does the patented design produce a superior flame; it also allows greater flexibility in the “personality” of the fire, Flaherty says. Depending on the client’s mood or the setting, the flame can be adjusted from a sleepy campfire to a roaring one. CROSSFIRE brass burners also have industry-leading fuel efficiency. Beyond reducing gas bills and being environmentally responsible, there are frustrating and potentially expensive concerns that can be resolved by adding one of these fuel-efficient burners. The problem may start with a buried, undersized gas line. It may come in
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the form of a call from a disappointcontractors to create custom systems ed homeowner, that despite pumping to fulfill each customer’s vision. “The gas through their system, is modularity of our burner still only getting a three- to systems together with our six-inch flame. Whether it’s Colorado-based production a gas-starved pit or a burner facility gives us the most More designers that’s overconsuming and design creativity and libare including fire underperforming, a CROSSerty in the industry. That and water in their FIRE burner may offer the combination also gives us landscapes, whether perfect solution. “The reaa very short custom turnas a focal point son fuel efficiency matters around time from design to or accent. to our company is because it delivery,” Flaherty says. The can really matter to our cuscompany strives to have customers,” Flaherty says. tom orders shipped within two weeks of the order. A custom design can come from almost anything a customer envisions, from a sketch on a notepad to a photo found online to a 3D drawing. Flaherty has seen a lot of clever designs and says one of their most memorable requests was a 20-by-50-foot feature with 14 burners surrounded by a steel bamboo forest. While that might seem Warming Trends has dozens of standifficult, Warming Trends doesn’t see dard burners to fill various sizes and it that way. “We don’t view our cusshapes of fire features with beautitom designs as a challenge,” she says. ful flames. But for those who want “Our manufacturing and production even more, the company is prepared. processes allow us to replicate almost Warming Trends’ on-staff engineers any configuration as long as it’s within and design professionals work closethe client’s budget and local codes. You ly with homeowners, designers, and dream it; we’ll build it.”
How Can Fire be Customized?
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How Can Fire be Used as an Accent?
PHOTOS, FROM TOP: COURTESY OF WARMING TRENDS; COURTESY OF DRAGONFLY PONDS AND PATIOS
Historically homeowners only considered fire in the design of indoor living spaces. Today more and more people are replicating their indoor living spaces outside. Fire is an important component in these spaces, and the design options are numerous. Firepits, fire tables, and fireplaces are incorporated into living and dining areas while torches, fire bowls, and Every CROSSFIRE in-ground features burner is made of 100% brass and is appear throughout incredibly durable, landscape designs. rust- and corrosionIncreasingly deresistant, and signers are includcomes backed by ing fire in landa lifetime warranty. scapes to accent waterfalls, pools, and ponds. Whether it’s as an accent or focal point, fire is an integral component in today’s outdoor living spaces. Many such features can be completed with one of the many standard burners offered by Warming Trends. The six fire bowls surrounding the Wonder Woman exhibit at Six Flags Fiesta in San Antonio were filled with standard burners. An in-ground trailing fire that wound through preset boulders required a completely custom design. “Adding fire makes for an easy wow factor, and it’s a great way to accentuate design in many landscapes,” Flaherty says.
What Else Do I Need to Know? The size and shape of a fire feature varies depending on whether it’s a focal point, accent, or used to help define spaces. It’s also important to consider potential limits on gas and electrical supplies at the site. “You want to avoid visions of a 50-inch firepit when you only have a half-inch gas line,” Flaherty says. Understanding site conditions early allows alignment of the fire system to them. It’s important to work with a professional installer when considering an outdoor fire project. Not only can such a professional assess site conditions or limitations, but they will also know and follow local codes when installing the feature. Working with an installer upfront avoids rework on the back end of the project. gb&d gb&d
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How to Make Better Spaces With Biophilic Design Sagegreenlife improves wellness and connects people to nature with every project. By Jessica Mordacq
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Instead of creating biophilic spaces with simple potted plants like many other companies do, Sagegreenlife grows leafy plants and flowers of all varieties in four expansive greenhouses across the US. “The biggest way to make a difference and change communities is by integrating these into the built environment inside and outside,” says Darren Mende, COO. The Chicago-based company grows its plants for living walls inside BiotilesTM made of Rockwool—essentially melted down, layered basalt rock. Stone fibers prevent plants from losing their composition and allow roots to take hold, decreasing the chance plants will die. Because the roots aren’t constrained on the back of the tile, they are easily replaced, though they’ll often live their natural lifespans of up to nine years. When a living wall is ready for install, Biotiles are inserted into a panel box and backed with layers of watering and drainage, a waterproof board, and support beams. Here’s how and why you should consider living walls for your next project. gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF STEELCASE
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF STEELCASE, SAGEGREENLIFE
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Consider Your Space
Think About the Occupants
Connect People with Nature
Have Fun with It
Sagegreenlife’s indoor walls have less than 2% plant loss. Their outdoor walls experience 5 to 7% compared to the industry’s 30 to 50%.
These living walls add beauty and wellness to offices, universities, restaurants, and more all across North America.
Aside from installation, Sagegreenlife offers plant wall maintenance and remotely monitors their creations 24 hours a day.
This Boston museum shows how adding colorful living walls from Sagegreenlife can add life to an already vibrant cultural institution.
“There’s lots of data on the physical sense of wellbeing: lower cortisol, better attention, reduced turnover,” Mende says of indoor walls in workspaces. They’re also great for absorbing sound in buildings with open floor plans. Sagegreenlife recently installed a 700-square-foot wall in a common lounge of Chicago’s Franklin Building for employees who want to stop and share coffee or have a meeting; their experience is enhanced by more than 4,000 plants around them. Besides earning wellness credits for buildings, plant walls often help spaces earn LEED credits. Outdoor walls can absorb pollution and carbon dioxide as well as mitigate heat traps. “That gives cities alternatives that aren’t controversial. We may not solve the problem, but we can mitigate the problem in a way that makes our communities more beautiful,” Mende says. “You get LEED credits, you get wellness credits, you make your environment healthier, and you’re using natural materials.”
Sagegreenlife prides themselves on their larger projects. Last year they installed a 30-by-30-foot wall of more than 5,000 plants in a Washington University hall. It includes 10 species of waxy, durable plants like philodendron. “I think it’s going to change the way people look at the possibilities. That’s where we are in the industry, as there’s still very little awareness of what you can do with these walls,” Mende says of how the public typically perceives these projects. “The bigger, more spectacular ones that we do, they open up the possibilities in a way that helps drive awareness and future growth.” Though urban planners and developers have been aware of biophilic design for years, the concept is fairly new to the general public, who often associates these kinds of projects with hefty costs. But Sagegreenlife helps choose the right size and design for hospitality, offices, and stores across the country, so they can all feel a little more like gardens.
Because each of Sagegreenlife’s tiles can contain 16 plants of almost any type, even a small installation creates a better environment to connect people with the natural world around them. “There’s an innate need to be exposed to nature,” Mende says. “If you can bring that back into any one of these environments and make that space better, it’s such a no-brainer.” For example, the leafy wall in the busy Los Angeles Football Club only improves patrons’ experiences, bringing life into the space. Indoor areas like this one, which often have low light, are perfect for Dracaena compacta and Creeping Fig plants. Both are included in Sagegreenlife’s tropical plant palette, designed to bring people back to nature with plant walls that are simultaneously beautiful and easy to maintain. “I think what we do is inherently good,” Mende says. “That’s what we want to continue to focus on as part of this company.”
Indoor or outdoor, the plant tiles’ Rockwool backing provides flexibility. Because it doesn’t have soil and it’s very porous, it can hold as much as 15 times more water than soil. It also naturally inhibits pests, mold, and root rot, according to the experts at Sagegreenlife. Rockwool evenly distributes water and nutrients and insulates well in colder outdoor spaces, too. For every space, Sagegreenlife considers how plants will age as well. Some clients want herb walls, which Mende warns can quickly become bushy and require more trimming. On the other hand, Boston’s Museum of Science wanted a clean, colorful look. After working together to decide what plant pallet and design works best for the client and their space, Sagegreenlife discusses the best lighting and irrigation options before installation.
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The commercial real estate industry is evolving, and BOMA ’20 rises to the challenge with some serious updates. We’ve redesigned and optimized your user experience so that you can tackle education, products and services in a way that works for you. These major changes bring you a new, more reliable BOMA International Conference & Expo giving you everything you need in an easier-to-navigate, more streamlined format. We’ve upgraded to stay ahead—come see for yourself.
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Building with Fortitude
— The mission behind this veterans research building held strong across 10 years and several design changes.
BY JESSICA MORDACQ PHOTOS BY BEN BENSCHNEIDER
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The building’s three green roofs are just one of the project’s sustainable water-use features. While these gardens are visually pleasing for residents,
the water is also gathered and re-used for flushing the building’s systems. The green roofs also work to absorb heat, rather than put it back into the atmosphere.
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Things certainly do change in a decade, and no one knows that quite like
Stantec, who spent 10 years working on the Seattle Veterans Affairs Mental Health and Research Building. But throughout the process, one thing remained constant even as user needs and sustainability expectations shifted—supporting veterans. The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) helps more than 110,000 veterans at their nine facilities in the Pacific Northwest, and their newest location in Seattle shares in the mission of supporting those who have served our country. Stantec and the team of architects, interior designers, and mechanical and electrical engineers created the Mental Health and Research Building to connect veterans to the environment in every element of their design possible. The project broke ground in 2009 and involved three construction contractors. Throughout the process, Stantec worked closely with The Design Partnership , who contributed knowledge around how the infrastructure would accommodate the facility’s medical and mental health equipment. Stantec designed the mental health building from meetings they had now nearly a decade ago, and they started the structure’s two-and-a-half-year construction in 2015. In that time user needs changed, and some of that had to be reflected in construction. But user needs weren’t the only thing that shifted. “Sustainability design changes. What was innovative three years ago is standard now,” says Ian Lawlor, project director at Stantec, of now common-practice features like green roofs and solar panels.
Water is also reused to foster native plant growth. “In the landscape out on the site there are bioswales and various means of dumping the water into the landscape, rather than sending it into storm drains and making it Seattle’s issue,” Lawlor says. “We use very efficient irrigation systems to reduce the amount of water that we’re spreading into the landscape.”
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Sunlight pours through the building’s strong glass facade, providing ample daylight inside and welcoming those who come and go from the outpatient facility. Stantec designed the main entry drive, drop-off plaza, and parking structure to eliminate confusion in entering and navigating the large building, as well as to maximize accessibility. “There is
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a large component of the parking structure that’s underground to enable the veterans, specifically those who have accessibility needs, to get as close as possible to the buildings and be protected from the weather,” Lawlor says. There are also covered walkways to protect them from the weather. This approachable and accessible design continues throughout the facility.
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Project: Seattle Veterans Affairs Mental Health and Research Building Location: Seattle Completion: March 2019 Size: 220,000 square feet Cost: $121.6 million Architects: Stantec, The Design Partnership Contractor: The US Department of Veterans Affairs
“Health care facilities often like to control their mechanical systems, so they don’t allow windows to be opened,” Lawlor says. Though not all the facility’s windows are operarable for safety reasons, those that are operable open the building to natural ventilation and fresh air for residents. “You’re not only getting daylight, you’re getting air circulation on a passive level,” Lawlor says. “Our approach is one of passive first, active second.”
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DRAWING: COURTESY OF STANTEC
Plaza Plan
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Building a Community
— Outdoor gathering space is a must in this Los Angeles supportive housing project.
MLK1101’s central courtyard and garden are the perfect blend of efficiency and artistry. The L-shaped building wraps around the courtyard to highlight an outdoor gathering space—what Lorcan O’Herlihy at LOHA Architects calls the heart
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of the project. He calls this green space the “outdoor room.” It serves as an extension of the living room, which is notably smaller than the kitchens and bedrooms in each of the building units to encourage residents to spend time outside.
BY JESSICA MORDACQ PHOTOS BY PA U L V U P H O T O G R A P H Y
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Designing for affordability and sustainability were musts for Lorcan
O’Herlihy, principal-in-charge at LOHA Architects, when he decided to take on a supportive housing project in South Los Angeles. More than a half-million affordable houses for low-income and homeless residents are needed in LA, according to the Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing. O’Herlihy and his team stepped in with a plan for the now LEED Gold–certified MLK1101 project, which provides more than just a roof overhead for formerly homeless veterans and low-income families. As part of MLK1101, LOHA emphasized communal gathering spaces so both residents and the neighborhood at large could engage each other. The 26-unit project also offers special services to residents. Tenants can sign up for job and educational training, life skill and self-help workshops, and financial literacy programs—tools that help residents transition back into society. “When you have stable housing, individuals in a building like this feel like they’re ready to go to the next step,” O’Herlihy says. O’Herlihy says his favorite part about projects like this, though, is the chance he gets to interact with tenants after they move in. “To me, that’s what architecture is. It’s not simply the formal gymnastics of doing a building,” he says. “It’s about the experience after.” Most of MLK1101’s residents moved in during January 2019.
MLK1101’s planted roof folds down to the street to engage with the greater neighborhood. The sloped roof lines a staircase that leads from the street to the courtyard. “If you have a gathering space on the second level, it’s very important to create some kind of connection to the street,” O’Herlihy says. LOHA strategically
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placed a cut through the middle of the building so residents can see onto the sidewalk and street. O’Herlihy says this counters the stigma of LA’s privatized nature where buildings often push the limits of their property lines. Instead of closing off the lot, LOHA’s strategy connects buildings with their surroundings.
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To fight the usual opposition to affordable housing projects, LOHA made sure MLK1101 was well-designed. “We had great support from the get-go on this project because of the quality of design. Design does make a difference,” O’Herlihy says. One of
these quality design components was the building’s streetfront space for local businesses. This retail area activates the sidewalk and street with large floor-toceiling glass windows, inviting pedestrians wto come inside.
The most important thing to O’Herlihy is that he give back. The belief that quality design and architecture should involve all socioeconomic levels has driven his career for 20-plus years. “How do you do work that’s work of consequence? How do you engage social, political, and economic forces, embrace those elements—not to see them as constraints, but assets—and then create an architecture that’s robust, vital, and engages the city?” He says these questions have driven him since he started working. “I’m still excited every day I wake up.”
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Project: MLK1101 Location: Los Angeles, CA
Massing Concept 1 & 2
Completion: 2019 Size: 34,000 square feet Architect: Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects Developer: Clifford Beers Housing Civil + MEP Engineer: SY Lee & Associates Structural Engineer: John Labib & Associates Landscape Architect: LINK Landscape Architecture
DRAWINGS: COURTESY OF LOHA ARCHITECTS
Cross-ventilation within the L-shaped building reduces the need for heating, cooling, and artificial lighting. On principle, O’Herlihy says he doesn’t love hallways because they
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need to be air-conditioned. Instead LOHA implemented exterior walkways to use less energy. MLK1101 residents enter each unit from outdoors to improve indoor air flow.
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Building Bigger and Greener
— How a massive affordable housing development in NYC tackled sustainability.
BY JESSICA MORDACQ PHOTOS BY JOHN BARTLESTONE PHOTOGRAPHY
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The coloring and composition on the outside of the building—and how it matches the first phase apartment—were key. “Because the building is basically a zoning envelope diagram, and it’s pretty massive, how do we do a facade?” asks Mark
Ginsberg of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects, navigating the fact that the complex fills the entire available area allowed by zoning. “We’re breaking up the mass in this somewhat less regular way so that it doesn’t feel as massive.”
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Approximately 50,000 applicants entered a lottery to live in Park Avenue Green, which also includes a community room and laundry center. Even so, not all tenants were initially aware of the building’s Passive House features. “The
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residents are not renting this apartment because they want to live in a Passive House building,” Ginsberg says. “They’re renting this apartment because they’re looking for affordable, quality housing.” When residents move in, they receive a
manual explaining the building’s features, from air sealing and variable refrigerant flow to thick insulation. The manual also explores things like how to navigate the thermostat in order to help tenants maximize their energy efficiency.
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A highly insulated and thoroughly sealed building envelope, storm resiliency features, a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heating and cooling system, and an array of photovoltaic panels on the roof are just some of the features that make a new 15-story affordable housing development in New York City one of the largest, most sustainable projects out there. Mark Ginsberg of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects says he’s proud of Park Avenue Green’s accomplishments to say the least. The 154-unit building brings modern, sustainable design to low-income residents in the Melrose neighborhood. Though the architecture firm has always endeavored to build sustainably, Park Avenue Green pushes the envelope. In the beginning, the team simply wanted to design the largest building they could for the site, and Park Avenue Green was the second of two building phases. The first, another warehouse-inspired building to the east, inspired Park Avenue Green’s colors and materials. The new building has the
same brick at its base and consists of materials with similar or complementary colors to the first-phase project. But construction wasn’t without its challenges. A New York City easement to build a bridge over a nearby rail yard affected the process. The city banned other construction on the easement, and the apartment now had to be at the elevation of the new bridge. Designers had to get creative; they cantilevered part of the building’s south side over the complex’s parking garage to align with the rail yard across the street. Fortunately, these trials were not for nothing. Park Avenue Green won the 2019 New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Award of Excellence and the New York State Association for Affordable Housing’s Downstate Project of the Year in 2019. “This is doable. It isn’t rocket science,” Ginsberg says of building beautiful and affordable green housing. “You need to think it through and know what you’re doing, but it’s something we should be doing more and more of. It isn’t that hard to do.”
Aside from outside aesthetics, builders also installed rooftop photovoltaic panels and a handicap ramp that blends into the
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green space. Park Avenue Green is fully accessible; 5% of the units are handicap accessible, and the rest are adaptable.
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Curtis + Ginsberg communicated with several other parties— mainly the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)—throughout the building process to relay their mission of
sustainability. Outside Passive House building standards, the HPD has additional guidelines— like energy efficiency improvements and the kitchen size per unit— to preserve tenants’ rights and maintain affordability.
Spaceworks, a nonprofit that creates low-cost creative spaces for artists in an increasingly expensive city, moved in to the street level space at Park Avenue Green. Their studio is open to all artists, and a gallery and community area can also hold special events. “They’re the lifeblood of the city,” Ginsberg says. “It adds to the building and the neighborhood.”
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First Floor
Project: Park Avenue Green Location: New York City Completion: April 2019 Architect: Curtis + Ginsberg Architects Size: 164,000 square feet Mechanical Engineer: Skyline Structural Engineer: De Nardis Engineering
PTHOTOS AND DRAWINGS: COURTESY OF C+GA
Contractor: Monadnock Construction
Park Avenue Green has centralized ventilation in each apartment. “The nice thing about de-unitized is you don’t have the vertical shafts or fire rating issues. It makes it easier to seal between apartments,” Ginsberg says. “If you do a centralized system,
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the superintendent has to go up to the roof—or wherever the units are— and clean two, three, or four unit filters instead of getting into 154 apartments.” All ERV ducts are well-insulated to prevent condensation and temperature difference.
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Upgrading a Heritage Home
— Inside a historic Toronto house’s rewarding renovation
Outfitted with dual sinks and a cook top, the airy kitchen features nine-and-a-half-foot ceilings and is also linked with the outdoors—in this case, via the sliding glass wall. And its large island serves as a sort of “control center” around which all indoor activity revolves. To the north, a roomy so-called “appli-
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ance garage” allows for the stowing of various kitchen implements— toaster, coffee maker, blender—while greatly reducing clutter, and the large pantry wall contains two built-in stoves. Made from a special Italian laminate product, it’s three-quarters-of-an-inch thick and sports a stylish super-matte black finish.
BY MIKE THOMAS PHOTOS BY NANNE SPRINGER
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“We knew this was going to be the long view out of the living room, so this window gives you a chance to look south without having to look through the kitchen,” Knezic says. “You’re still connected to the outdoor area as well as what’s happening in the kitchen.” The glass screen along the staircase is another element that defines two spaces while also blending them.
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The bucolic Toronto neighborhood of Rosedale is lined with handsome prewar homes, all of them “heritage” graded and many significantly upgraded—on the inside, that is. Any renovation in the neighborhood, when it’s allowed, must maintain a home’s original streetview appearance. That includes along the sides. And so it was with a stately brick house purchased by a Toronto couple who lived in England and wanted to move back home. After a long process that involved lots of Skyping and structural revamping, including rebuilding the front porch and dropping floors to increase ceiling height, this home is now what you might call a modern classic. “We like fairly normal materials— but put together very carefully,” says Tom Knezic, a principal at Solares Architecture who oversaw the project. “We’d rather do that than something really exotic. And from a sustainability perspective, we love being able to keep the existing structure. There’s also cultural value to that.” Once his team got beyond the threshold, they had free reign to realize the client’s
vision—besides the dropped floors, they tore down walls and installed large windows (among other transparent barriers) to create a much greater sense of openness. The result is an airy space with ultra-clean lines and a palpable sense of connectedness from room to room. That connectedness extends to the backyard deck, which seamlessly flows from the kitchen through a massive glass wall that binds the spaces while also acting as a barrier to rain, snow, and rodents. “I think a connection to the outdoors is always important,” Knezic says. “It’s something contemporary residential designers should always be looking at. We really like having a transition space so you’re not just stepping out onto the lawn. You’re going from an indoor space to the deck, which has a connection to the outdoors, and then stepping off the deck into the yard.” It all looks so simple, but of course it wasn’t. That’s the magic, Knezic says. “You’re not fixating on the architecture at all. You enjoy the space without always looking at the structural things that are happening around you.”
Hours of planning and labor went into making this handsome master bathroom—another space with a sweeping outdoor view—fully functional. The shower was sunken and a slope pan created to help drainage, and the existing floors were reinforced with engineered lumber. In order to properly sync everything, Knezic and his crew did some major reframing. As with many aspects of the home, what looks simple was actually quite complicated.
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The owners envisioned a dramatic, curved staircase with a rail to match but limited space required something far more compact. It wasn’t an easy problem to solve, but Knezic is pleased with the solution his team devised—one that’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing. “Railings are hard to get right,” he says. And this one was no exception. In the end, though, it allowed them to retain a sizable landing that’s flooded with natural light streaming in through an ultramodern window.
This south-facing sliding glass wall flows directly from the kitchen to the deck. Even the flooring grooves in each space are precisely aligned to create a sense of connectedness. “I really look at it as an
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indoor-outdoor living space,” Knezic says. “It’s a nice transition, whether you’re going from out to in or in to out. The deck is a really important feature of the house. I think of it as another room.”
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Level 1
Project: Rosedale Renovation Location: Toronto Completion: 2018 Size: 4,900 square feet Architect: Solares Architecture Structural Engineer: Moses Structural Engineers HVAC: Renu Engineering Contractor: Revive Contracting Interior Design: Greg Mathers Interior Decorator: Emily Hollis Interiors
Level 3
Landscape Design: Chloe Philip Landscaping
DRAWING: COURTESY OF SOLARES ARCHITECTURE
Level 2
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Reimagining the
PHOTO: PETER MOLICK
Cubicle How design inspires productivity and builds community in the workspace BY CAP GREEN
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You might be surprised to learn that one of today’s most cutting-edge companies is headquartered in a mid-century brickand-mortar building. Zoom, one of the world’s largest digital companies for video conferencing—and, let’s face it, a savior for many folks in the times of COVID-19— moved into a renovated four-story building in Santa Barbara in 2019, and the company’s new space is as impressive as its video sharing. Dan Weber, lead architect and founder of Anacapa Architecture, is the visionary behind the urban rehab. He and his team were modernizing and rehabilitating the 1950s building to create three major tenant suites on a speculative basis when Zoom started scoping out the space for their southern California office. Weber says he and the building’s owner, Christine Walker, put up quite the fight to get the company in downtown Santa Barbara. “There’s just not a lot of office space that’s at the scale that can support a global company like Zoom, and there’s all this pressure—economic, political, and bureaucratic—to have them relocate to the outskirts of town in one of the suburban areas where real estate is cheaper,” Weber says. Building Zoom’s
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headquarters in a suburban area with less regulations would have given Weber and his team a bit more freedom with their design, but Weber says it was important to everyone involved that Zoom be downtown. “It helps enhance our community and keep really high paying jobs in Santa Barbara,” Weber says. Plus, the downtown location is environmentally friendly—the majority of Zoom’s staff has just a short walk for their commute to work. Rehabilitating the aging building was the major sustainability feat of the project. “Taking a building that was built in the 1950s and doing a really high-quality remodel with high-quality tenants in it,” Weber says. “We’re extending the life of that building by decades.” Anacapa enhanced the building’s energy performance by replacing all of the doors and windows, updating the HVAC, refinishing the south facing glazing, and using 100% LED lighting throughout the project. The building itself is on a tricky slope, which meant there were significant level changes Weber had to design around. The split-level space was chopped into several outdated conference rooms. The Anacapa team designed a stairway that connects
For Zoom, Anacapa Architecture improved a 1950s building’s energy efficiency by replacing all of the doors and windows, updating the HVAC, and using 100% LED lighting, among other things.
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Project: Zoom HQ Location: Santa Barbara, CA Completion Date: May 2019 Size: 7,000 square feet Architect: Anacapa Architecture Electrical Engineer: JMPE Electrical Engineering Structural Engineer: Van Sande Structural Consultants Mechanical Engineer: BMA Mechanical Contractor: Bottenfield Construction Interior Plants: Lush Elements
PHOTOS: ERIN FEINBLATT
The four-story stairway doubles as seating and develops a centralized core in the split-level design.
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Project: H-E-B/Favor Location: Austin Completion: Summer 2019 Size: 81,000 square feet Architect: IA Interior Architects Collaborating Architect: Gensler Interior Designer: IA Interior Architects
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the upper levels to the lower level in a creative way. “Above that stairway we utilized the existing skylight, which floods a ton of natural light into the space,” Weber says. “The space acts as a central core that enhances their community and the connection between people. It provides that fun sense of life and activity in the middle of the building.” In other aspiring office innovations, seasoned studio leader and designer Stephanie Long is the managing director at Interior Architects’ (IA) Austin office. Long led the design concept for the innovative H-E-B/ Favor offices along with IA design director Manuel Navarro, who Long says is passionate about delivering inspiring spaces for his clients that reflect their strategic business goals and culture. With a design process rooted in curiosity, experimentation, and problem-solving, the team was the perfect fit for H-E-B/Favor’s renovation. The renovated 81,000-square-foot warehouse, which used to serve as Austin’s first recycling center, now houses the Texas-bred superstore H-E-B and its recently acquired food delivery service Favor. “The biggest design challenge for this space, both functionally and aesthetically, was creating a cohesive work environment that supports two very different organizations with very
different workstyles and heritage,” Navarro says. The design works as a sort of melting pot that merges both companies with their main commonality—Texas pride. But don’t worry, you won’t see longhorns and hide on every wall. “We used Texas as a space planning strategy by superimposing the state map on top of the building shell,” Navarro says. “This broke up the large, mostly open plan into quadrants.” The design also incorporates tastefully curated Texas elements, like the large Hickory Pecan stair that represents the Trans-Pecos area of West Texas, a photo studio to resemble a grain silo akin to one found in the panhandle, and even a rock wall that represents Palo Duro Canyon. The design also incorporated handmade furniture from Marfa and art from Texas-based makers and artists. Long and Navarro’s design has a fun and bespoke feel that pays homage to each company’s heritage. “We designed a few Easter eggs in the space that people will find as they wander,” Navarro says. For example, the 750-square-foot boardroom, Kerrville, is the exact size of the first H-E-B store that was founded in the Texas city of the same name. There’s also a replica of the first store in a hidden room named after the year H-E-B was founded, 1905. You can enter 1905 through a secret shelf that’s accessed
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PHOTOS: PETER MOLICK; DRAWING: COURTESY OF INTERIOR ARCHITECTS
Pecan wood from Texas’ state tree is showcased in custom installations throughout H-E-B/Favor’s communal space.
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The LEED Gold 9th & Thomas was designed to be a neighborhood gathering place. A public lobby is home to a range of curated arts programming.
in the “Beer Friday” bar—another fun nod to Favor’s work culture. Up in the Pacific Northwest, Tom Kundig, principal and owner of Olson Kundig, works closely with project teams and clients to create buildings that respond to their surroundings. His recent project, 9th and Thomas, is a mixed-use building with retail and office spaces in what used to be the industrial hub of Seattle. “This area of Seattle, South Lake Union, has seen a lot of change in recent years as industry moves out and technology moves in,” Kundig says. “It was important to us that the building ultimately contribute to the culture of the neighborhood.” Unlike many structures that build around an elevator core, 9th & Thomas uses a side core that allows the space to adapt to change and preserve the open, flexible floor plates that modern office tenants want. The floor plan also allows the building to capture the lively community feel in all aspects, even its sustainable features. The operable windows and movable shutters, for example, offer natural ventilation and adjustable lighting in the various spaces, and the green roof not only cuts down on the heat island effect but also encourages movement between indoor and outdoor spaces. “This isn’t a static building that goes dark at 5pm. It welcomes people inside. It engages with the street,” Kundig says. The building has common and private porches and terraces throughout, which bring the outdoor spaces into the design and provide great views to the city. “That kind of immersion in the city, in the surrounding community, is really what this building is all about,” he says. gb&d
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Exterior artwork by Shepard Fairey hangs from 9th & Thomas and further immerses the building into the urban landscape.
Project: 9th & Thomas Location: Seattle Completed: 2019 Size: 230,000 square feet Architect: Olson Kundig
PHOTOS: NIC LEHOUX
Landscape Architect: Site Workshop
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H O W B U I L D I N G W I T H T E R R A - C OT TA TILE FROM LUDOWICI MAKES A S U S TA I N A B L E A R B O R E T U M E V E N B E T T E R B Y S A R A H T R E L E AV E N P H OTO S B Y H A L K I N M A S O N P H OTO G R A P H Y
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The Tyler Arboretum Edible Gardens—a nonprofit in Delaware County, Pennsylvania that offers “seed to table” learning about food systems and sustainability—is so very of-the-moment that it can be hard to remember that it was more than a century in the making. In cooperation with Tyler Arboretum and DIGSAU Architects, Ludowici, a 132-year-old leader in architectural terra-cotta clay tile products, built on their extensive experience to help create a structure that is simultaneously beautiful, highly functional, and completely reflective of a community mandate. 88
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The Tyler Arboretum is a “living classroom” with a series of teaching gardens, as it connects people back to their farming roots. The garden classroom serves as a gathering place for school groups, and any surplus produce will be donated to local food banks. Interior spaces are airy and open concept, and there’s a key standout design element: The entire building is clad in terra-cotta tiles—an undeniable physical “wow” factor that complements the outstanding work being done inside and out. Tab Colbert, CEO of Ludowici, calls the Tyler Arboretum “a real gem,” and there’s no question that applies to both the physical appearance of the structure and the community enrichment. “The arboretum was looking for a more natural material that could be incorporated into a natural setting, would last, and would really speak to the purpose,” he says. Sustainability was a top concern for this project. Colbert says when it comes to LEED certifications, roofing hasn’t traditionally been awarded an abundance of points because conventional shingles are an oilgbdmagazine.com
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Tyler Arboretum’s living classroom building is entirely clad in terra-cotta tiles from Ludowici.
based product. “They never really look at the life of the product,” he says. “We have applications that are 130 years old that are performing great.” And terra-cotta, he says, is “next level” when it comes to sustainability. “When you’re looking for a product that’s reusable and recyclable, it completely fits that aim. We take a natural product, we dig up dirt, we put a lot of pressure on it, and then we bake it. That’s all we do. Our product is designed to last the life of the structure.” Even more, for this particular project, terra-cotta is reminiscent of the clay pots that are so familiar to home gardeners—which is a nice tie in to the grassroots work being done. Work on the arboretum was completed in 2019. Much of the project’s seamless installation can be attributed to the NexClad product line by terra-cotta manufacturer Terreal North America, a subsidiary of Ludowici. This system provides an economical, aesthetically pleasing, and low-maintenance small module cladding facade in a number of textures, colors, and sizes. “It’s innovative in the sense that it’s mechanicalgb&d
ly attached and smaller in scale, so you can do a lot more with it,” Colbert says. “We’re really excited about it.” Colbert was also excited to work with DIGSAU Architects, who he credits for their dynamic and contemporary design. Jules Dingle, principal at DIGSAU, calls Colbert the hero of this project and says the collaboration nurtured his interest in the property of materials. “These terra-cotta tiles, which come out of the earth and reflect both centuries of use and questions about application in modern times, are not a material we get to work with much, and we were so excited to use these tiles to explore the project’s key themes.” As a business with a historic footprint, it’s also no wonder Ludowici was interested in forecasting not just five or 10 years into the future, but 75 or 100. They wanted to create a building that would not just withstand the test of time but that would evolve and gain an even closer relationship with its natural environment. As such, the terra-cotta tiles will, over time, host airborne microorganisms, pollens, and mosses—just
like the other natural materials that surround the arboretum. With such thoughtful design and planning, all parties report that the execution has proceeded without any major obstacles. Colbert says that when developing a new building system, a good contractor is essential to successful installation. With the Tyler Arboretum, Gillespie Contracting played that crucial role. “There were a lot of custom details that needed to be designed and installed and Gillespie did a great job in assisting and executing those details,” he says. Even for Colbert, who has been working with these materials for years, the Tyler Arboretum project stretched beyond his imagination of what might be possible. “We’re mostly known for roofing, but [DIGSAU] came to us because we can do so many shapes and colors and whatnot and they thought, ‘Why not use it on the walls?’ DIGSAU helped us push the limits on everything, and no one was afraid to take a risk. It’s really stretched our idea of what we can do.” gb&d summer 2020
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF EARTHCORE
An Architect’s Guide to Linear Fireplaces Earthcore’s Maximus Linear Series offers customizable, clean fireplaces. B Y J O V O N A TAY LO R
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Earthcore can customize the fireplace of your dreams. The fireplace manufacturer uses Isokern pumice stone from Iceland in every project.
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hen Carl Spadaro, the founder and owner of Earthcore, took over Isokern’s U.S. office in Jacksonville, Florida, he looked at the landscape of materials being used in fireplaces across the country. He noticed that brick and metal dominated the market, which presented an opportunity for improvement. Brick-by-brick fireplaces absorb a lot of heat and are “dirty burners,” he says, because of the clay tile used in them. Metal chimneys looked like file cabinets with the drawers missing. “Thirty years ago the linears weren’t around and the opportunity was to build a good masonry fireplace out of better material than metal or clay, and we were the only company to start that solution,” Spadaro says. Earthcore was founded 30 years ago as a fireplace manufacturer using sustainable Isokern pumice stone from Iceland. With each new collection over the years, the company’s small engineering team has continued to offer the latest products to its customers without cutting on value or wasting material.
Customization and Modularization
The idea for the maximus linear series was formulated by a trend in the industry of long-linear fireplaces, according to Nicole Cartica, Earthcore’s marketing manager. She says many manufacturers are building metal-box style fireplaces that are cumbersome to put together and lack design options. The Earthcore team went to the table with the idea to craft a customizable linear fireplace unlike what had been done before. “That’s the great thing about Isokern. It’s very customizable,” she says. “We set out to take an idea and really build upon it and drive the market with the idea of customization.” Spadaro says the beauty of his company’s approach to making linear fireplaces is that it modularizes things like gas delivery to the fireplace and breaks building down into lightweight pumice projects. “Two guys can install a 37-foot fireplace. You don’t need a whole crew or a crane to bring it in,“ he says. The largest fireplace Earthcore has built to record is a 37-foot fireplace in Houston for a wedding and event venue. gbdmagazine.com
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old, which Spadaro says is relatively young in comparison to the millions of years the rest of the world’s pumice has been around. It’s produced cleaner and cheaper than pumice from places like Greece, Italy, Hawaii, or Mexico, where it must be processed to remove organic material that finds its way into the soil. The Icelandic pumice used by Earthcore only needs to be screened. The Isokern material allows the fireplace to heat up quickly and draft faster, too, Cartica says. Pumice is also strong and meant to withstand the test of time. “The house will crumble before an Isokern fireplace will,” Cartica laughs.
More Benefits
Cartica says the company likes to think of its product as Legos you build with onsite. Installation doesn’t require the manpower and resources of traditional metal-box unit fireplaces. Earthcore’s drive is to be inside of an architect’s plan, so it works directly with architects to develop products they want to use. Customization is the top feature of the Maximus Linear series, as customers can zero in on the design of their fireplace and flawlessly match their interior designs. Spadaro says the fireplaces in the series don’t require a false wall to install or double glass on the opening, either—a subtle but notable sustainable feature.
Planet-Made Material
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF EARTHCORE
Balthazar Cellars is a 16,700-square-foot, stone-clad facility designed by architect Bill Curtis. The final build is a two-story wine storage facility with several second-floor entertaining venues, including this fire feature.
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The 80-year-old Isokern technology for pumice started in Denmark, according to Spadaro. Isokern pumice accounts for 78% of the finished goods produced by Earthcore. The meaning of Isokern is broken down into two parts: “iso” meaning isolation and insulation, and “kern,” which stands for the volcanic soil used to insulate the fireplace. The aggregates, extracted from the Mt. Hekla volcano in Iceland, are clean and reusable. Cartica says Earthcore has a less than 1% carbon footprint and uses nearly all of its materials during manufacturing. If something breaks, it can be recycled back into the proprietary mixture for the material. The Icelandic pumice is about 6,000 years
Kevin Harrison, who worked as a draftsman on the company’s latest Maximus Linear series, notes the longevity of the fireplaces as a standout feature, along with being a green option and requiring minimal labor and cost to assemble. “We wanted to provide options without having to tear an entire fireplace out to make a visual change for our client,” Harrison says. He was a part of Earthcore’s four-person engineering team that brought the company’s vision for the series to life. The series has two design styles of open front and cooltouch glass for the pit, and features a mixand-match burner system, which allows the design to be updated without taking it out. The Maximus Linear series also includes a combustion-cooling air system, which combines the two-step process into one to ensure the fireplace doesn’t get too hot or release carbon dioxide. Harrison notes that this will help ensure HVAC systems designed for the residence are not competing or making up for the fireplace. Ernest Maranan, a product development and testing engineer on Earthcore’s engineering team, says the ability not to burn room air was also a focus in designing the series as some places, like California, are banning such fireplaces. “More and more cities are implementing the no-burning room-air policy for fireplaces, so we have to be ahead of the curve before it becomes mandatory,” he says. Fireplaces in the series are also equipped with a safety feature that automatically shuts it off if there is no airflow or if kept on too long. Following the Maximus Linear series, Earthcore embarked on a new project for fireproof rooms lined with Isokern pumice to store valuable belongings in the event of a fire. Spadaro hopes to launch the product in 2021, and says he’s excited to see what the future may hold. “That’s what excites me about the pumice—what are the things we can do to bring to market, because there’s millions of years of this material left,” he says. gb&d summer 2020
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Talking About
ASSA ABLOY’S SELF-POWERED DOOR OPERATOR IS EARTH-FRIENDLY FROM THE START. WRITTEN BY ZACK HAROLD
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MORE FOR LESS The ADAEZ Series is certified by GreenCircle to reduce energy consumption by as much as 100% compared to other comparable operators. The 5800 ADAEZ is simple to install and use.
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PHOTO: COURTESY OF ASSA ABLOY
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W H E N L O O K I N G F O R W AY S T O make a building environmentally friendly, there are always a few usual suspects. Lighting. Windows. The HVAC system. But before we get to any of those components, we have to get through the door. Because that’s where Brian Hass found a power draw that no one else was considering. Automatic doors are essential to making a structure compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For those doors to work, a user has to push a button, which sends an electric signal to a motor, which uses an electric current to swing the door open via an installed door operator unit. Until, that is, Hass invented a door operator
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called the ADAEZ® Pro, which is now the foundation of the 5800 Series ADAEZ line of low energy door operators manufactured in Monroe, North Carolina, by the Swedish door hardware company ASSA ABLOY. In common applications, most building occupants will use a door manually. In the case of the ADAEZ Pro, “The energy from those opens and closes, pushes and pulls, is stored in an onboard rechargeable battery within the door operator,” says Amy Musanti, director of sustainable building solutions at ASSA ABLOY. When a person arrives at the door and requires the use of a push-button to open it automatically, the required electricity comes from that onboard battery instead of from the grid. That push button can either be wired or, for even easier installation, triggered by radio frequency. As long as the door sees at least 80 manual uses each day, and only about 25% of traffic through the door chooses the automatic option, the battery will maintain enough charge for occasional automatic use. A door that would normally be a constant power draw is suddenly up to 100% regenerative. For situations where a door doesn’t get enough manual use to charge the battery, ASSA ABLOY does offer another 5800 Series ADAEZ model that can be wired using a 24VDC plug in wall transformer. Even then the device only draws less than one watt of electricity to maintain a full charge. But the sustainable attributes of the 5800 Series ADAEZ don’t end there. Globally the team at ASSA ABLOY is making a concerted
PUSH & PULL Pictured below at left, push side mounting with electrical power. Below at right, pull side mounting without electrical power.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ASSA ABLOY
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effort to reduce the product’s “embodied carbon”—the greenhouse gases that are released through the supply chain, from raw material extraction to product installation. “We haven’t spent a lot of time in the industry as a whole in understanding that,” Musanti says. “Now we have to say, ‘What does it look like when we’re extracting raw materials? When we transport products? When we package them?’” The 5800 Series ADAEZ is made from recycled materials. It is manufactured in a zero waste to landfill, GreenCircle-certified factory in Monroe, North Carolina. The factory has taken measures to reduce water consumption and boasts a robust recycling program that takes care of all its plastic, styrofoam, cardboard, and paper. Any trash that is generated doesn’t go to the landfill but is instead incinerated. It is equipped with motion and proximity sensors, so lights dim or go dark when they aren’t needed. “It supports ASSA ABLOY’s goal as a good corporate citizen,” said Kenya Moses, general manager of the North Carolina plant. In another carbon-cutting move, the 5800 Series ADAEZ comes with everything a maintenance staff would need for installation—the operator assembly, the battery, the push buttons, the transmitters—all in one package. “We call it ‘one solution in the box.’ It doesn’t come in four or five different boxes,” Moses says. “The installer isn’t going to have to go back to the shop to order another part.” That saves the maintenance staff time and frustration, eliminates the need for extra packaging, and reduces the resources required to ship extra parts to the user. ASSA ABLOY has also tried to make the 5800 Series ADAEZ as cost effective as possible. It can be mounted on doors built without headers or transoms, so it’s a convenient solution for older buildings that need to be made ADA-compliant without major renovations. And installation is simple enough for a facility’s maintenance team to install it within a few hours—so there’s no need to hire a contractor. “Many of the customers who need this type of solution don’t have the most generous budgets,” Musanti says. “We need to get away from this idea that a responsible building should cost more. The ADAEZ is meant to be an accessible and sustainable solution.” ASSA ABLOY is working to have the device certified as a Living Product. The designation, given by the International Living Future Institute, seeks to highlight products that leave a positive impact on the world. Products must be made free of toxins, and the companies that make them must be socially and ethically responsible. “It’s a really positive challenge for manufacturers to see how we can optimize our processes and products,” Musanti says. With the ADAEZ, ASSA ABLOY is certainly pushing the industry in that direction. gb&d gb&d
ENERGY SAVINGS The plug-in 5800 Series ADAEZ is 91% more efficient, and the wireless 5800 Series ADAEZ is 100% more efficient, according to GreenCircle, as compared to similar products.
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Spencer Luallen, Technical Maintenance Specialist, Roppe
Ask the Expert How does rubber flooring simplify maintenance?
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Not only is rubber flooring incredibly durable; it’s also very easy to treat and maintain, as the technology to install and keep it up is better than ever. Chemical formulas are becoming more and more complex, and equipment is becoming extremely specialized in order to make life for technicians easier. Maintaining
rubber flooring takes patience, but it’s worth it. When you take the time to do it correctly, you save money in labor because you won’t be cleaning it as often. Also, rubber flooring becomes easier to clean as it ages because the pores of the product close and the product itself begins to harden. Regardless of floor type, in order to suspend soil you need four basic
principles, and those are chemical, heat, agitation, and time—or CHAT. Without these you cannot properly suspend all soil on any flooring surface. While different building service contractors have different methods or equipment they use, the process doesn’t change too much. One common misconception, though, surrounds rinsing. A lot of maintenance chemical manufacturers claim that you do not need to rinse the floor after cleaning chemicals are used. But by skipping the rinsing process, you’ll leave a film or residue behind on the floor. This residue consists of surfactants that
are used in the cleaning process to separate the soil from the flooring surface, but when left behind they attract soil and will cause a poor appearance of the flooring material. As a result, you should rinse. The world of Roppe is also easy to navigate in terms of cost, as we use a single price point system. All of our colors— from black to snow—come in one price per product in our major product lines: wall base, tile, treads, and accessories. It’s also important to note that Roppe is a member of the USGBC, Health Product Declaration Collaborative, and many more sustainable organizations. gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ROPPE
Why consider Roppe’s commercial rubber flooring for your next project? For starters, beyond it’s other many benefits, it’s incredibly easy to clean and maintain once you have your flooring installed. For more than 60 years family-owned company Roppe has been providing innovative rubber flooring products. In this column we learn from Spencer Luallen, Roppe’s technical maintenance specialist, about just what it takes to keep that rubber flooring looking and feeling great.
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Roppe Rubber Tile and Tread in coordinating colors offers a durable solution for this library installation.
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Mike Johnson, Vice President of Commercial and Industrial Sales, EZ-ACCESS
While materials like wood break down over time, aluminum holds up, no matter the climate or conditions.
Ask the Expert What makes aluminum such a sustainable material for access?
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One of EZACCESS’s first commercial ramps, installed in South Florida, is still in use today. The very nature of aluminum’s long-lasting qualities make it one of the greenest building materials on the market. We spend just as much time designing systems to replace outdated ramps made from wood or concrete as we do new access systems for new sites. These other
building materials just can’t compete with the longevity of aluminum. Even the most cared for wood ramps typically have a lifespan of only six to eight years and, depending on where they’re installed, the climate’s severity could lessen that timeline. Replacing a wood ramp with wood means using even more materials that will end up in the landfill. Made in the US, our aluminum
systems can be recycled, and our durable components, built for high trafffic, can be reused, unlike wood. Sun, rain, and termites are just a few elements that can damage wood ramps. Rotten and warped planks must be replaced, and hazardous screws and nails that begin to loosen and protrude must be drilled or nailed back into place. That’s extra labor—and materials—you could eliminate if you used aluminum. Site impact also contributes to sustainability, and EZ-ACCESS systems have minimal to no site impact at all. Using lightweight aluminum ramp systems eliminates the need to pour concrete footers or drill holes into the site. And if you redeploy the ramps
in another place, you’ll find virtually no evidence that you ever deployed them elsewhere. The system’s legs are also independently adjustable so they can accommodate the ground’s natural features, eliminating the need for extensive site leveling. Finally, because we manufacture these aluminum ramps ourselves, we’re bound to a first-class standard, and we don’t take that lightly, whereas a contractor has less connection to the wood ramp they’re installing. We’re confident in our ramps’ abilities to stand the test of time.
Read more from EZACCESS in the Fall 2020 issue of gb&d, when Johnson looks at how aluminum contributes to compliance.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF EZ-ACCESS
When it comes to safe, accessible solutions for sites that are also environmentally friendly, aluminum is king. Wood, steel, and concrete ramps experience wear and tear from inclement weather and even general use. The EZ-ACCESS team examined all of the possible building materials when designing their ramps, but aluminum was the clear winner, according to Mike Johnson, national vice president of commercial and industrial sales. Aluminum lasts the longest once installed, and it won’t end up in a landfill or burned like wood once all is said and done. Johnson recently shared with us just how sustainable aluminum is compared to other materials when used to construct ramp systems.
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Approximately 34% of the extruded aluminum products EZ-ACCESS receives from their aluminum supplier is produced with recycled secondary aluminum—either post-consumer or production scrap— which requires significantly less energy to produce than the primary metal.
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Ralph Alvarado, Product Manager for PV Products, Q CELLS
The sun is a billion-year clean energy generator. That is why engineers at leading global solar company Q CELLS are constantly doing research and development and creating new solar products, and they are succeeding. In 2019 one out of four solar roofs in the US was a Q CELLS system. But adding solar to your property can do more than help the environment. Product Manager for PV Products at Q CELLS Ralph Alvarado has been working in the solar industry for more than half a decade. Here he shares other ways solar panels can enhance a property.
How can solar panels really improve a property?
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A homeowner with PV panels won’t have to experience the inflation costs of energy the way everyone else does. They can also offset roof costs. Many of these PV panels, including our Q.PEAK DUO BLK-G6+, are very strong and durable and can act as a roofing material. Our Q.PEAK DUO BLK-G6+ panels are available in a design-friendly black and have a long life with an inclusive
new property based on projections. Design software is then used to optimize the system and determine the best module for the design. We consider our Q.PEAK DUO the BMW of solar. It is highly efficient yet cost-effective. I like to say it has all the driving of the supercar without the supercar price. The final step is deciding whether or not to install an energy storage system, like our Q.HOME+ ESS HYB-G1, for added control and cost-savings.
Read more from Q CELLS in the Fall issue of gb&d, when Alvarado describes how a homeowner can benefit from an energy storage system.
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Ask the Expert
There is an increasing number of architects and designers incorporating PV into their roof plans. When these systems are designed by engineers on the front end, or retrofitted to an existing structure, they can help to control the total cost of energy for the life of the home. When specified properly they can enhance the roof to make a more attractive package.
25-year warranty. To get the most out of solar panels you need proper planning, design, and installation. The property needs to be inspected to determine the sun’s path and potential shade structures. The roof needs to be properly configured for optimal energy collection. If the PV system is being installed on an existing structure, inspectors must determine if the roof is strong enough to handle the weight of the panels. Then engineers need to determine the proper system size to support the needs of users. This can be done on an existing structure by analyzing past utility bills or on a
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Q Cells considers its Q.PEAK DUO the BMW of solar. It is highly efficient yet cost-effective.
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Francis Larose, Cofounder and CEO, OnSite
Ask the Expert Why should I consider an indoor rock climbing wall made by OnSite?
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Unlike the bright, overly colorful climbing walls from 30 years ago, at OnSite we focus on designing walls that feel like pieces of well-crafted furniture. All of our walls are made of Baltic birch plywood (a common material in furniture building), and we never hide the natural beauty of the wood grain. We use only wood stain and translu-
cent textures to give our walls their distinctly pure look and feel. We work with our clients to custom-build a piece that will physically and aesthetically fit in their space. That means we have to consider all kinds of complex interactions for each project: how a wall takes architectural cues from the vibe of the client’s space, how we balance the
look of a wall with the experience of climbing it, and how the shape of our wall affects the user flow around it. We use our collective experience in engineering, design, and rock climbing to make sure our walls bring out the best in every space. Some of our most challenging and interesting work has happened in locations that might seem too small for a climbing wall. By using our holistic, client-centered approach, we are able to play with all of the elements
of the space until we achieve a perfect fit. We’ve installed walls that flow together with cafes, yoga studios, fitness centers, retail spaces, and even corporate lobbies—all with the goal of creating something emotionally inspiring that encourages occupants to get active and bond with the people around them. While our walls are great to climb, that’s not our only goal: We want to create a space that feels great to inhabit.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ONSITE
With many architects and interior designers looking for ways to encourage healthy habits and community within their buildings, rock climbing walls are a perfect solution. Montreal-based OnSite is committed to building custom climbing walls that fit seamlessly into client spaces, allowing building designers to incorporate the benefits of climbing walls in often unexpected locations. Francis Larose, cofounder and CEO of OnSite, is passionate about designing walls that feel less like fun zones and more like integrated parts of beautiful spaces. In this column he explains the process and benefits of installing OnSite’s custom indoor rock climbing walls.
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OnSite climbing walls are custom designed by climbers for climbers. Durability is guaranteed, as they use the highest quality materials and processes.
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Michael Bruce, Vice President of Marketing and Engineering, Filtration Group
Ask the Expert How much do air filters impact a building and its occupants?
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Air filters have two big jobs to perform: Protect HVAC equipment and protect people. If your main priority is protecting equipment, you’ll probably use an air filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 10. These remove most of the bigger particles that can clog up and damage HVAC coils over time, but they miss essentially all of the dangerous sub-2.5-micron particles. If you’re serious about protecting
the people within your building, you’ll use air filters with a MERV rating of 15 or higher, like the GeoPleat® or the FP V-Bank Minipleat from Filtration Group. Air filters like these filter the air more completely, removing approximately 85% of sub2.5-micron particles. This means they do a much better job of removing the dust, bacteria, and smoke particles that can carry viruses and otherwise damage occupants’ health.
The USGBC recognizes the importance of high-quality air filtration by awarding LEED points for HVAC systems using MERV 13 or higher filters. For even more demanding applications, HEPA and ULPA filters are able to remove at least 99.97% of sub-2.5micron particles. For locations where nuisance odors need to be removed (like restaurants and hotels), gas phase filters use activated carbon to remove the volatile organic compounds that cause many unwanted smells. Targeted gas phase filters can even be used to remove specific unwanted gases like the formaldehydes in diesel exhaust with the addition of impregnated
chemistry to the activated carbon. Beyond the health of building occupants, air filters can affect the wider environment as well. A high-quality air filter conserves precious energy over the course of its life because the air pressure required to push air through starts lower and stays lower. Filtration Group even offers sustainable filter options like the self-supporting NOVAPLEAT®, which, because it is made without metal or plastic, can be fully incinerated to eliminate landfill waste.
Read more from Filtration Group in the fall issue of gb&d when they explore why you should rethink your commercial air filters.
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PHOTO, THIS PAGE: COURTESY OF FILTRATION GROUP-HVAC; PIXABAY, RIGHT
While many HVAC professionals are used to thinking about their systems’ efficiency, many don’t think enough about indoor air quality, according to Michael Bruce, vice president of marketing and engineering for Filtration Group-HVAC. Filtration Group ensures customers understand the full picture, especially the effect of particles that are 2.5 microns in diameter and below. These particles, common in smoke and other substances, are so small they bypass the body’s natural respiratory filters and can remain in the lungs forever or even reach the bloodstream. Either destination has been linked to long-term health problems. Bruce recently talked with us more about some of air filters’ impacts.
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Filtration Group offers air filters with a MERV rataing of 15 or higher, like the GeoPleatÂŽ or the FP V-Bank Minipleat, to filter the air more completely and remove the dust, bacteria, and smoke particles that can carry viruses.
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Kelly Walowski, National Design Consultant, Ambius
Ask the Expert How do you design better flexible work environments?
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When you walked into a commercial building years ago, you might have seen plants in a lobby or conference room, but that was it. As you may have noticed, that doesn’t cut it anymore. We have some clients who follow a one plant per person model, and there’s a lot more greenery in demand in general. Employees want it, and more companies are forward-thinking as
features like these help attract talent while driving productivity. Research has shown we spend on average 90% of our time indoors, and studies reveal that the environments inside buildings affect how we feel. Researchers have long been pointing to the benefits of plants and natural light. We at Ambius ask: How can we make these spaces even better? Our design team can work with
clients from the beginning of projects to understand the vision and explore plans, as we deliver a needs analysis. What is their space like? How many occupants? What amenities do they want? How’s the lighting? This allows us to know exactly what design elements will look best and which plants will thrive. We utilize the very best products and the right plants—everything from species to decorative containers. Doing this guarantees seamless installation. It’s not just about indoor plants, though. In many places we install living green walls; they’re often large focal points that inspire teams and brighten spaces. As we work with nationwide customers with locations all over North America, we deliver consistent brand
design concepts across all their spaces. This is more than a one-off design element; it’s something that becomes part of the company culture. Our clients say having consistency across locations is comforting. They want workspaces that are comfortable, collaborative, and consistent. Of course each customer is different; some want green walls, while others want scent solutions. We do terrace work in some parts of the country, too. No matter what you choose, our specialists do the maintenance and upkeep for you. And our living walls and plants are 100% guaranteed while we’re caring for them.
Read more from Ambius in the Fall issue when we explore the benefits of large green walls in commercial design.
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PHOTOS: LENDLEASE PROPERTIES, COURTESY OF AMBIUS
For more than 25 years Kelly Walowski has been working with Ambius, the global leader in creating enhanced commercial spaces with features like living walls. She’s seen the shift firsthand as buildings moved away from drab commercial spaces to become places full of positive energy and plant life—spaces that offer a sense of continuity and community across locations. “People need office spaces where they can collaborate comfortably within that space,” she says, adding that plants and other consistent services bring that to life. As developers and building owners continue to demand biophilia and consistency in design, Walowski talked to us about how Ambius makes that happen.
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Ambius worked with Lendlease properties to design plant specs for this project. Lendlease—a multinational construction, property, and infrastructure company— takes special consideration for the amount of plants they have per person as part of their designs.
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Gaetano Altomare, Category Manager – Plumbing, IPEX
Ask the Expert Why should I care about flue gas venting?
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Whether you live in a single-family home or multi-family dwelling, the gas-fired appliances that warm your water and your home are outfitted with piping that vents potentially hazardous flue gas. Over the decades that piping has been manufactured from a variety of materials, including foam core, ABS, polypropylene, and PVC. But here’s the problem: They’re DWV plumbing
products that adhere only to ASTM standards for liquids. Because flue gases are comprised of much smaller molecules, they must be channeled through specially designed systems to prevent carbon monoxide leakage. IPEX’s System 1738 PVC is one of those systems. Made from a uniquely engineered and certified UL 1738 compound that’s rated for gas temperatures up to 149º
Fahrenheit, it’s also certified to strict modern standards for flue gas venting, meaning increased safety, which even carbon monoxide detectors can’t fully provide. At best a secondary line of defense, their warning alarms are triggered only after gas has been released and toxicity levels are high. The safest option is to stop leaks from happening in the first place. Achieving UL 1738 certification—recognized as an option by both NFPA 54-18 National Fuel Gas Code and IFGC-18— requires the successful completion of more than 50 rigorous tests that confirm structural integrity and assure top performance. Detailed installation guidelines are
clearly outlined as well, so as to maintain high-quality performance from origin to termination. Those are extremely important in preventing something from going wrong. Perhaps most crucial, dealing with one flue gas venting manufacturer ensures installations are single-source, which eliminates complexity and streamlines the process altogether. That means one source for questions, one source for any issues that may arise, and one source for onsite training and warranty. Whether that source is a trusted company like IPEX, using flue gas venting products that are UL 1738-certified can provide peace of mind. gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF IPEX USA LLC
Founded more than 50 years ago, IPEX has grown to become a leading manufacturer of thermoplastic piping for industrial, commercial, and residential applications. When it comes to safe flue-gas venting, as Gaetano Altomare says, IPEX’s System 1738® PVC is an eminently reliable choice—and for many reasons, including performance, convenience, and peace of mind. From the unique chemical makeup of the piping itself to the strict certification process it endures prior to installation, quality and convenience are always central. Here Altomare details how and why IPEX upholds such high standards.
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System 1738Ž is a flue gas venting system fully certified to UL 1738—consisting of pipe, fittings, termination kits, and cement manufactured to strict quality, performance, and dimensional standards.
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Greg Fantin, Vice President - Marketing, Rmax
Ask the Expert How can polyisocyanurate be used as an air and water barrier?
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With an R-value of 6.5 per inch, polyiso’s thermal properties surpass other rigid foam plastics by 20 to 70%, making it a clear choice for continuous insulation—a must for any sustainable project, given that HVAC costs often make up the vast majority of a building’s energy bill. But did you know foil-faced polyiso can also act as the building’s air and water resistive barrier while meeting NFPA 285
fire codes, enabling the elimination of exterior gypsum and other air barriers, significantly reducing material and labor costs? Air and water barriers play an important role in protecting a building from the elements. For instance, if not properly protected, water and moisture could pass through a building’s exterior, contributing to rot and mold that erodes performance and sustainability over time. Additionally,
in colder climates, warm air inside a heated building can condense into vapor if it passes through a building’s envelope and settles on a colder surface, which can only be prevented by effective continuous insulation. Many environmentally conscious architects are now designing with polyiso continuous insulation and removing redundant materials like exterior gypsum and spray-applied membranes to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability. With each added component comes greater costs and a larger environmental footprint. For example, 40,000 square feet of wall space on a commercial building might include approximately 100,000 pounds of unnecessary gypsum board, which is typically
covered with petroleum-based chemicals. Ultimately the environmental impact of producing just the membrane material is the equivalent of manufacturing a million plastic shopping bags or 15 million plastic straws. By employing foil-faced polyiso instead, builders can save money while saving the environment, and maintain top-tier performance to boot. Not only that, but by simplifying the construction process, builders can ensure projects go up faster. With economic, environmental, and practical benefits, it’s no wonder polyiso is fast becoming a preferred material for sustainable building and design.
Read more from Rmax when they explore insulation for roofing and wall applications in the Fall issue.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF RMAX
For more than 40 years Rmax has set itself apart as a market leader in polyisocyanurate insulation. Due to its high R-value per square inch and fire resistant properties, polyiso has proven itself a sustainable and cost effective solution as continuous insulation in commercial and residential walls and roofing systems. Greg Fantin, vice president - marketing, has been with Rmax for eight years, and has served as the chairman of the board of directors for the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association since January 2019. For this issue we sat down with Fantin to discuss the many benefits of polyiso insulation.
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Polyiso is fast becoming a preferred material for sustainable building and design, considering it simplifies the construction process and has other economic and environmental benefits.
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Kate Houghton, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Hudson Technologies Company
Ask the Expert What do I need to know about R22?
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The real misconception in the market is that the government is phasing out all R-22, not just virgin production and importation. The EPA’s ban does not restrict the continued use, buying, or selling of R-22 refrigerant. In reality reclaimed R-22 will most likely sustain the market for 30 or
more years as these systems continue to be operated and maintained. But R-22 demand will naturally decline as systems reach their end of life. As those systems are taken out of service, their refrigerant will be reclaimed by a certified reclaimer, such as Hudson, and put back into the pool to help support and service R-22 systems that
still exist. At Hudson Technologies, we test, process, then repackage R-22 into cylinders to resell. The refrigerant goes back into the product stream to maintain the equipment that’s still in use. What we and most chiller, light, commercial, and industrial equipment manufacturers would say is that R-22 remains the best refrigerant to operate R-22 designed systems. It’s the least expensive, most energy-efficient, optimal way to use the refrigerant that the system was designed for. A lot of building owners see their R-22 refrigerant and systems as a liability or cost, but we would encourage people
to see it as a valuable asset. If a chiller has reached its end of life and needs to be replaced, Hudson buys the refrigerant at market value so clients can offset any upgrade or replacement projects. Continuing to buy and use R-22 is neither unsafe or against the law. We call it “the R-22 rumor” that you have to replace your system now because it’s illegal. Many people take what is in part true: The EPA did phase R-22 out, but they phased only R-22 production, not general use.
Read more from Hudson Technologies when the company explores the environmental benefits of reclaimed refrigerants in the Fall issue of gb&d.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HUDSON TECHNOLOGIES
As the largest refrigerant reclaimer in North America, Hudson Technologies has reclaimed millions of pounds of R-22 refrigerant. In 2010 the EPA started phasing out the virgin production and importation of R-22 refrigerant, as R-22 depletes the ozone if released to the atmosphere. Even though the EPA stopped virgin R-22 manufacturing and importation in 2019, this doesn’t mean we can’t find a safe way to use it if it’s properly maintained. As one of the top three most popular refrigerants in North America, R-22 can easily and safely be recovered and reclaimed to the same grade as virgin refrigerant, says Hudson Technologies’ Kate Houghton. She recently told us more.
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Hudson Technologies says R-22 is the best refrigerant to operate R-22 designed systems, as it’s the least expensive and most energy-efficient option. The company tests, processes, and repackages R-22 into cylinders to resell.
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Ken Hallam, Regional Contract Manager, Binswanger Glass
When you’ve been in business more than 140 years, you know the essentials. That’s the case for Binswanger Glass, one of the largest full-service retailer and installer of architectural glass within the residential, construction, and automotive markets in the US. Binswanger’s commitment to its customers, its innovative approach, and community feel across 61 locations sets it apart. Ken Hallam is one of the company’s dedicated employees who immerses himself in industry innovations to offer the latest solutions to enhance commercial projects. He shares his take on the strides the industry has made, and how Binswanger’s products not only meet commercial customers’ needs, they exceed them.
How is commercial glass improving?
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they’re so efficient at retaining heat, occupants are turning on their heaters and circulating the air much less than they were before. This, however, has led to some unexpected consequences. In many cases, tight building envelopes and a lack of air circulation have resulted in condensation and even frost forming
build commercial buildings, from condos to hospitals. Just think about the potential in a health care setting; instead of needing to manipulate heavy drapes or blinds to control sunlight and heat absorption, workers or even patients could simply clap their hands to activate the switchable glass. Not only does this create a more comfortable environment, it’s more sanitary and economical, too. These are just some of the developments within the glass industry that are transforming how we create commercial spaces.
Read more from Binswanger Glass when Hallam tackles sustainability in the world of glass in the fall issue of gb&d.
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PHOTOS: HARTUNG GLASS
Ask the Expert
I have had the pleasure of witnessing countless innovations in commercial glass over the last four decades. These new technologies have evolved as building methods themselves did, particularly with regard to energy usage. Thanks to the move toward energy efficiency, buildings today are much more airtight. Because
on windows. Heavy drapes or curtains are needed to block the sun, but this in turns hampers air circulation even further. Luckily we’ve seen exciting developments in glass technology to solve these problems. Switchable glass is one of these solutions. Like the eyeglasses that turn into sunglasses when exposed to sunlight, this glass becomes opaque to block out the sun’s rays during the brightest parts of the day. Some solutions are even sound activated— you can simply clap your hands to turn on the shading effect. Just like that you can block out glare and heat-inducing sunlight. This technology has tremendous potential for changing the way we
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Switchable privacy glass is becoming the material of choice in health care. It’s easy to clean, with a non-porous surface that can be sterilized, and it doesn’t mold or attract bacteria.
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Julie Advocate, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Digilock
Designer and manufacturer of electronic lock solutions Digilock introduced the very first keyless electronic lock on the market all the way back in 1992. Since then technology has continued to advance at a dizzying pace, and this company has remained on the cutting edge. Julie Advocate, vice president and chief financial officer at Digilock, has been with the company for nearly 20 years, witnessing the transformations firsthand. In this issue Advocate sat down with us to share a bit more of her insights on the evolution of personal security in the digital era.
How has technology enhanced personal security?
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example, customers at gyms and fitness centers no longer needed to carry their own personal locks or keys with them, nor did they need to worry about losing them. Facilities also benefited by gaining the ability to offer customers a useful amenity as well as reducing the likelihood of being unable to access one of their own lockers. Next came Digilock’s second generation of
With an integrated footprint, spatially disparate locks can be remotely managed through mobile applications that allow for remote locking and unlocking, real time status updates, and the ability to record audit trails. Building managers can limit access to any given lock by user and time of day, as well as review who has access to a storage unit or space and when, all with the click of a button. In our fast-paced era of telecommuting, flexible work arrangements, and multi-shift facilities, Digilock’s products streamline the work building managers do with a seamless experience.
Read more from Digilock in the Fall issue of gb&d when they tackle new storage ideas for the mobile workforce.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF DIGILOCK
Ask the Expert
The evolution of Digilock’s personal security and storage solutions can be effectively broken up into five generations. With the release of Digilock’s generation one products, electronic locks utilizing keypads replaced traditional mechanical locks, allowing for end users to ditch their physical keys for the first time. With this shift came increased convenience. For
products, which were marked by the introduction of the electronic manager bypass key. With this innovation management gained the ability to utilize an electronic key to override a lock if necessary, allowing for easier oversight. Subsequently, generation three saw Digilock’s products begin to employ back-up power systems integrated into the key in case a lock’s batteries ran low. In generation four products began to sport more sophisticated user interfaces as well as offering cam lock mechanisms, which allowed them to be used for filing cabinets and credenzas in workplace settings, rather than merely storage lockers. The innovation continues, as Digilock’s latest products offer even more features.
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Digilock offers up products that make flexible workspaces even more secure.
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John Bianchi, Gypsum System Products Manager, National Gypsum
Ask the Expert What is PURPLE gypsum board?
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You’ll know PURPLE, the high-performance XP drywall family of products by National Gypsum, when you see it because it’s not just purple in name; it’s purple in color. While all gypsum-based drywall is fire-resistant, the PURPLE family offers even more benefits as it resists moisture, mold, and mildew while also being GREENGUARD GOLD–certified for indoor air quality.
Scratches, scuffs, dents, and noise are also no match for PURPLE products. This high-performance drywall gives architects, contractors, and homeowners more options as well as peace of mind when constructing projects. At its core PURPLE inhibits mold growth. It has the highest possible mold score according to several ASTM tests, and it features spore guard technology. It has
less than 5% water absorption, and it fights the effects of moisture before damage can occur, reinforcing a structure’s integrity and strength. It also eliminates swelling or dimensional movement caused by moisture if, say, water were to get into a basement. PURPLE isn’t just for new construction; it makes renovations easier than before, too. It installs in exactly the same way as regular gypsum board. You follow the standard steps, but PURPLE also comes with grid marks—basically Xs down both tapers with 16, 24, and 32 inches on center, so no matter what construction you’re doing, you can identify studs easily. As a product line, XP has been
around for 17 years. In commercial buildings it’s one of the most widely used mold and moisture products out there—especially in offices, hospitals, and educational buildings. Now we’re seeing it become more popular in the residential space. As more people emphasize mold and moisture protection in residential buildings and turn to renovating instead of starting over, this gives them the ability to upgrade an old house they love and get the same protection they’d get with new construction.
Read more about PURPLE from National Gypsum when Bianchi tackles sound reduction in the Fall issue of gb&d.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF NATIONAL GYPSUM
PURPLE products also include Max 12 assemblies, a top fire-rated system with a fastener pattern that allows for easier, more uniform installation.
John Bianchi has been in the industry for almost a decade. He knows exceptional products, and that includes PURPLE gypsum. While some people may think it costs a lot of money to upgrade to PURPLE in their construction projects, he emphasizes it’s a nominal charge considering the time, money, and stress that will be saved in the long run with this next-level protection. PURPLE products resist moisture, mold, and mildew, stand up to scratches and bumps, and are also fire-resistant and reduce unwanted sound transmission like no other. We recently spoke with Bianchi to find out about these benefits and more.
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PURPLE’s Hi-Impact has an abrasion and mold-resistant paper, a dense core, and fiberglass mesh reinforcement that can resist penetrations into the wall cavity. “If you hit a regular piece of drywall with a baseball bat it would create a hole and you’d have to fix it. With Hi-Impact, all you have to do is patch and paint it.”
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Andrew Nasarczyk, Research and Development Manager, GALE Pacific
Ask the Expert What should I know before specifying flame retardant fabric?
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Current US market standards relating to flame retardant chemicals are the National Fire Protection Authority 701.1 and 701.2, which is broadly used in our industry. The other standard is the California State Fire Marshal Standard method 1237.1. While it’s acceptable to test one color and apply that test to the whole range, we’ve found that pigment and pigment technology can have an influence over flame
retardancy performance. We aren’t satisfied with just one product test; we test all colors. As we launch around 50 colors across three ranges of new products, we’ve conducted three comprehensive tests across every single one—well in excess of 100 tests. Other stringent requirements also exist in Europe, Australia, and Asia, and we’ve adapted and tested to those global standards, too. If we’re promot-
ing safety in our product range, we want consumers to be confident they’re getting a product that’s compliant with safety standards. Architects, engineers, or designers who specify our commercial shade fabric for large public areas can rest assured no other company applies that breadth of compliance in testing standards. We offer three distinct products designed for different sized projects and applications; we can offer that breadth to fulfill a number of specific requirements. These products are best suited for projects where there is a conscious requirement around additional safety and protection. From a risk management perspective, architects and engineers are starting
to specify flame retardant products. Although we’ve been working on flame retardant products for more than two years, we had a brutal summer here in Australia and a high public awareness around products that will perform and provide safety in such an environment. There is a growing consciousness around products used in applications and environments where temperatures are getting more extreme; performance characteristics need to adapt and be suitable for the changing environment in which we’re living.
Read more in the fall issue when GALE Pacific explores fabrics and flexibility in design.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF GALE PACIFIC, SHADE SYSTEMS, INC.
Australia-based GALE Pacific has been manufacturing shade fabrics for 40-plus years, initially for agricultural, crop, and produce protection. Over time they’ve broadened the application for people protection—manufacturing a comprehensive line of architectural shade fabrics. As GALE Pacific places safety above everything else, it was a natural extension of the company’s line to manufacture flame retardant shades that meet the most stringent global fire standards. The newest lines are the Commercial NinetyFive 340 FR; Commercial Heavy 430 FR, and Commercial DualShade 350 FR. Andrew Nasarczyk, research and development manager for GALE Pacific, explains why the company exceeded the testing threshold for its flame retardant shade fabric.
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GALE Pacific’s commercial shade fabric undergoes extensive testing across colors. The company offers three distinct products designed for different sized projects and applications.
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Architects to Watch Arielle Schechter, Arielle Condoret Schechter This architect builds for the North Carolina climate and for clients who crave sustainability.
Light is the most important factor in architect ARIELLE SCHECHTER ’s design philosophy. Much of her design inspiration comes from Japanese architects who use screens and overhangs to block the sun while creating a seamless translucence from outdoors to indoors— that, and modernist design that connects inside spaces to nature. Schechter became interested in her craft at a young age, growing up with a famous mid-century architect as a father. “I always thought I’d work for him but, when he died, I had a lot of things I wanted to say in architecture,” she says. “I totally believe there’s no point in designing anything, much less a green building, unless you’re going to make it wonderful for the people who live in it, too.” So she started her firm ARIELLE CONDORET SCHECHTER, AIA , and she now works tirelessly to change public opinion that architects are scary and expensive to work with. “I really don’t care how much money I make. I just want to get people to stop buying cookie-cutter, badly built developer houses that don’t have an architect involved because they’re inefficient,” Schechter says. North Carolina, where she constructed her own house—now a certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat and nearly net zero—and in 2009, her own firm, has a particularly difficult climate to build for. Because of hot summers, cold winters, and lots of humidity houses in North Carolina have to be built with moisture levels and the sun’s position in mind.
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PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHAPEL HILL MAGAZINE
BY JESSICA MORDACQ
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The North Carolina sun is a beast for Schechter to work with. “We all need to be reminded that citing the house properly to take advantage of the southern sun—at least in our hemisphere—is half the battle as far as getting that sun in the winter and keeping it out in the summer.” The hot western sun was a prominent factor in designing for the Haw River House, which has a western-facing front. Though Schechter originally wanted to include screens to tackle this, she settled on exterior shades for affordability. While Schechter typically has creative freedom at the project’s start, it doesn’t always last. “As the process continues—and this is kind of the heartbreak-
ing part—most clients will remove some of my best ideas. It’s part of architecture and just something you have to live with.” The Haw River House clients chose to keep the cantilevered porches and decks, as well as the butterfly roof, which Schechter installed because the site’s well provides less than a gallon of water per minute. The butterfly roof funnels about 6,500 square feet of water into two large, metal cisterns that lead to triple-filter the runoff. The harsh conditions surrounding Haw River House inspired the site’s sustainable features. For example, a lack of reliable electricity led to a rooftop solar installation and geothermal wells.
Project: Haw River House Location: Chatham County, North Carolina Completion: January 2020 Size: 2,600 square feet Builder: Tate Building Co. Structural Engineer: Red Engineering and Design PHOTOS: TZU CHEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Windows and Exterior Glass Doors: Awilux, Poland, Eurostar Fenestration Rainwater Cisterns and Purifying Systems: Mike Ruck
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Project : Privacy House
PV System: Action Solar
Location: Chatham County, North Carolina
Windows and Doors: Awilux Passive House Windows and Doors via Eurostar Fenestration
Completion: September 2018 Size: 2,000 square feet
Structural Engineer: Red Engineering and Design
PHOTOS: KEITH ISAACS
Builder: Newphire Building
Schechter built the Privacy House for clients who were tired of their previous “cookie-cutter development.” A cypress privacy screen to the east and a deep porch to the south help seclude them. Though the couple wanted a tiny house, the development restricted houses under 2,000 square feet. So Schechter added a study off the bedrooms to fit the bill. “Luckily they didn’t have a rule against solar panels or flat roofs,” she says. Schechter enjoys longer projects like the Privacy House that allow her to be more involved with the sites, contractors, and clients. “These things take time because I don’t rush it. I can fast-track it, but I prefer to take our time to make sure everything is exactly like [the clients] want it. I want them to feel comfortable with the different steps.” In the case of the Privacy House, these steps included making the home Net Zero Passive by appropriately positioning it on the site for maximum solar gain, light, and ventilation. “Building green is easy. I don’t want people to be scared of it. It’s a matter of getting used to certain strategies,” Schechter says. “It’s a lot easier than people think.”
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Project: Serdar Net Positive House Location: Hillsborough, North Carolina Completion: January 2018
Windows and Doors: Awilux via Eurostar Fenestration
Size: 2,222 square feet
Photovoltaic System: Action Solar
Builder: Newphire Building
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Schechter started her Micropolis Houses project—a collection of tiny, customized houses, each no larger than 1,500 square feet—after noticing the white space for those who wanted small, affordable residences that weren’t mobile homes. Her Serdar Net Positive House was built for only $225 per square foot. Its compact design and simple shape makes it cheaper than larger houses with costlier energy bills, while its solar array, tight insulation, and concrete floors make it more sustainable. Plus, with a cheaper home, residents can spend their money elsewhere, Schechter says. These “goodies” might be a grand outdoor space, screened-in porch, or in the case of the Serdar Net Positive House, a luxury spa bathroom designed for life-long living with no shower curbs and a walk-in shower. Schechter says everyone who has bought one of her Micropolis Houses makes them “a little bit bigger because I don’t think people really want to downsize as much as they think they do. To me that’s OK. At least they’re thinking smaller, thinking more sustainable. I don’t have a problem with that, as long as people are trying.” In the future she believes people will continue building smaller. “A lot of my clients don’t start out as green as they end up being. Somehow, over the process of design, they get really excited about it. That makes me so unreasonably happy.” gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS: IMAN WOODS
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At a Glance
Artthaus Studios
This former California cannery has been transformed into a sprawling oasis for artists and entrepreneurs.
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Completed in late 2019, Artthaus Studios combines creative office space, artist studios, and a makers facility as part of this new adaptive reuse development. The building dates back to 1916 when it was the H.G. Prince Cannery—later becoming the Del Monte Cannery— and it’s the last remaining cannery building in the region. The finished project offers more than 100 office and studio spaces and brings life to the historic Jingletown neighborhood with wide open spaces
and colorful murals. Expansive office space, flexible layouts, double-height ceilings, plentiful daylight, and unbeatable city views are among the building’s amenities, and tenants also have access to common spaces inside and out, including a roof deck. Riaz Capital acquired the building in 2016 with the goal of transforming the property into a live-work space for Bay Area creatives while investing in the longterm stability of the neighborhood. riazcapital.com/projects
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PHOTO: ALEX HERNANDEZ
By Laura Rote