Abstract Shapes Limit Museum Commotion

Salesforce Tower needed a customized approach to perimeter fire containment. Thermafiber drew from a repository of test data dating back to the 1960s, as well as third-party and internal test data. codes. The next challenge was testing the assembly in time to avoid any construction delays. The collaboration resulted in a new system (CW-D-1037) that was tested and approved in less than a year. Again, recycled content in the insulation contributed points to help Park Tower at Transbay achieve pre-certified LEED Gold.

SALESFORCE TOWER San Francisco’s tallest structure, Salesforce Tower, is also the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. The building soars to 1,070 ft., accommodating 61 floors and enclosing 1.4 million sq. ft. The square geometry is offset by rounded corners composed of insulated glass panels, and the top third of the building tapers to a perforated-metal screen at the building’s pinnacle. In addition to helping conceal mechanical equipment during the day, at night the scrim provides a backdrop for illuminated public art.

As with 181 Fremont, design details required new ways of thinking about the perimeter fire-containment system. While the rounded corners of Salesforce Tower contribute to the building’s visual interest, team members found that no listed assembly met the needs of the arced façade. Additional evaluation found variances such as the wider spandrel opening, curved curtainwall, and the radius details at the corners of the building that presented special concerns when specifying the assembly. To address these conditions, Thermafiber drew from a repository of test data dating back to the 1960s, as well as third party and internal test data specific to the conditions. The evaluation was further supported by running a parallel engineering analysis with a thirdparty engineering firm.

From a review perspective, Salesforce Tower’s perimeter fire-containment assembly system was supported by reviewed drawings and engineering judgments provided by Thermafiber Insolutions. The recycled nature of these insulation products helped the building achieve outstanding floor-to-floor fire separation in compliance with building-code requirements while also contributing to valuable LEED credits toward its Platinum certification.

ENGINEERING JUDGMENTS While every building has a number of unique nuances, some takeaways are clear when it comes to perimeter fire-containment barriers. Engineering judgments must be specific and represent conditions u n ique to the building. The engineering judgment must address ev

Park Tower at Transbay presented an unusual challenge. The building’s design featured a back-pan assembly installed on the inside surface of the spandrel façade, a feature more widely used in the Midwest and Eastern United States.

ery detail of the curtainwall construction to support the hourly fi re-resistance rendered. Collaboration between the curtain-wall manufacturer and the perimeter fi re-containment assembly team is critical to identifying potential challenges and achieving the desired performance. The International Firestop Council (IFC, Tulsa, OK) has provided recommendations on writing engineering judgments titled, “Recommended IFC Guidelines for Evaluating Firestop Systems in Engineering Judgments.” The guide places a strong focus on the importance of assemblies addressing specifi c conditions and confi gurations within the building.

Fire is a threat to building occupants regardless of region. In the event of a multi-story building fire, the integrity of the building design and proper installation of the firestopping system represent the first line of defense.

Such a high burden of responsibility places pressure on architects and firestop contractors to properly install code-compliant perimeter fire-containment systems in all of the building they design and build. Collaboration between AEC and firestop parties, along with a tight focus on specific conditions relative to the perimeter fire-containment system and engineering judgments, can help support life-safety and code compliance. CA

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Thermafi ber Firespan, thermafi ber.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/10021129-B-Thermafi ber-FireSpan-90-40-Curtain-WallInsulation-DS.pdf Thermafi ber Safi ng, thermafi ber.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/10021130-C-Thermafi ber-Safi ng-Data-Sheet.pdf Thermafi ber Insolutions, thermafi ber.com/insolutionstechservices The Skyscraper, skyscrapercenter.com ASTM E2307, astm.org/Standards/E2307.htm ASTM E119, astm.org/Standards/E119 Benson Industries, bensonglobal.com International Building Code, iccsafe.org/codes-tech-support/codes/2018-i-codes/ibc International Firestop Council, fi restop.org

Artwork made with Pinta Acoustic products stimulates imagination and controls sound at Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose.

An overhead sculpture made up of pinta acoustic’s colorful Sonex Rondo baffles mitigates sound in the museum’s Food Shed. C ustom abstract butterfly shapes take visitors from inside to Bill’s Backyard of the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, CA. Made with pinta acoustic’s Willtec foam, they are part of a multiyear renovation and expansion that provides acoustical control and creates movement in the museum’s circulation area. The museum also added a sculpture made from Pinta Acoustic’s Sonex Rondo baffles that absorbs sound and symbolizes green and natural things in the facility’s FoodShed café. The museum offers interactive exhibits and programs encompassing science, humanities, performing arts, health, and physical fitness.

Recently added to the museum, Bill’s Backyard is an outdoor learning environment. A half-acre of welcoming and safe nature exploration, the interactive exhibits encourage children to climb, dig, and plant, along with other activities. To get to Bill’s Backyard, museum guests pass through a tall circulation area. Using those butterfly shapes, David Fenster, principal at Modulus, San Jose, added direction and movement leading from the beginning

of the circulation path to Bill’s Backyard. “The branding for Bill’s Backyard includes butterflies,” said Fenster. “We created abstract butterflies out of the Willtec acoustic foam that swarm together to guide visitors, with the added benefit of sound absorption.”

The circulation area is approximately 1,800 sq. ft. with tall, 40-ft. ceilings that triangulate in sections. The area has skylights, polished concrete floors, drywall, large glass doors, and other hard, reflective surfaces, requiring sound absorption. Fenster used test pieces, crafted on a computer and made from cardboard, to determine the best shapes and sizes to achieve the look. He worked with Pinta Acoustic’s team to develop an innovative approach to hang 1,700 lightweight shapes from the ceiling. They used a net to provide a grid to hang the baffles at different heights.

“The eye-catching foam sculptures provide the perfect solution for absorbing the sound of hundreds of children having fun every day,” said Marilee Jennings, executive director of Children’s Discovery Museum. “The experience our visitors now have is so much more pleasant and aesthetically pleasing with these remarkably creative and imaginative designs.”

The museum also renovated its café, the FoodShed, wanting to transform it into an appealing place to eat and promote fresh and healthy foods. Featuring reclaimed and recycled material, the café is approximately 40 x 40 ft. with a 30-ft. ceiling. Prior to the reno

vation, the eating area had a spray-on acoustic treatment on the walls that was collecting dirt and grime. An acoustic treatment to replace the spray-on foam and mitigate noise from hundreds of kids who visit the museum every day was needed. Modulus created an overhead sculpture of colorful Sonex Rondo baffles. The baffles are water-based acoustic material, coated in two green and three orange hues.

“The museum wanted something that would involve and educate the kids and be a part of the museum experience,” said Fenster. “The abstract and engaging sculpture was hung from the ceiling with mechanical fasteners down to where the sound can be absorbed.” CA

Pinta Acoustic’s Willtec abstract acoustic foam butterfl y shapes add direction and movement leading from the beginning of the circulation path to Bill’s Backyard.

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Circle 4 on the Reader Service Card. Modulus, modulus.com Pinta acoustic, pinta-acoustic.com Download a Pinta white paper, pinta-acoustic.com/en/research-design/acoustic-information/index.html