This CE Center article is no longer eligible for receiving credits.
The transformation of the building industry to be greener and achieve better energy performance over the past several decades is evident everywhere. While great progress has been made, there is still more to do, particularly in the hospitality and retail sector, which is typically a very large consumer of energy. Since a lot of energy consumption usually means a lot of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere, designers of hospitality and retail buildings are in a position to make a big impact. Hospitality buildings are also large consumers of water, so finding ways to manage and conserve water in these settings can also be significant. This course will look at some of the current initiatives that design professionals can tap into and some examples of strategies that can be employed to reduce these aspects of the environmental footprint for hospitality and retail facilities of all types.
Photo: © Brad Feinknopf/OTTO; courtesy of Bison Innovative Products
Hospitality and retail buildings are being designed to embrace the environment and increase their sustainability, as shown here at the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina, designed by Cooper Carry.
Indoor/Outdoor Spaces
There are many cases in hospitality and retail settings where taking advantage of an outside space connected to an indoor one is very desirable. Doing so can create either positive or negative impacts on the energy performance of the building, depending on how it is done. The issue becomes one of control between the indoors and outdoors. A great example of this is the use of operable glass walls. When open, they provide a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, often reducing the need for constructed square footage, while providing natural ventilation to the interior. When closed, high-performance operable glass walls become part of the building envelope, providing a thermal separation between indoors and outdoors while still allowing natural daylight and views.
The key to a successful project is the selection of a quality operable glass wall product that can handle the daily commercial grind that a hospitality and retail environment requires (i.e., has demonstrated traits of reliability, long-term durability, ease of use for the employee, etc.). To contribute to the green and sustainable aspects of the building, it needs to meet the challenges of changing weather and environmental conditions, such as wind, water, and large temperature swings. Of course, it also needs to fit in with the building structural system, resisting impacts and forced entry. Fortunately, all of these components can be specified into operable glass walls, making them excellent candidates for meeting the desires of hospitality and retail clients while still addressing energy performance, carbon contributions, and green building.
How does this all play out in design? Opening glass walls enable hotel designers to create large, inviting entrances, incorporate beautiful views, connect with hotel landscaping, and provide natural daylight and fresh air into registration, dining, and guestroom areas. For retail spaces, a wide-open entrance eliminates barriers by creating a seamless transition between street and store, attracting customers inside, which can lead to an increase in sales. With expanded display areas, shoppers are enticed and are readily drawn deep into the store. When it is time to close, the storefront can continue to showcase the interior and provides a secure, energy-efficient, transparent facade that seals tight as an energy-saving and dust-control measure after-hours. Restaurants can boost revenue with increased seating capacity and enhance dining experiences by installing opening glass walls to open a restaurant’s interior to surrounding outdoor spaces, whether a roofed or open patio.
From a performance standpoint, operable glass walls must keep the cold on the outside while maintaining warmth inside in heating season and vice versa in cooling season. All of the usual means to do that are available in operable glass walls, including glazing choices, air infiltration details, and frame options. The products must provide superior humidity and moisture control while resisting wind-driven water from entering the establishment. To meet security concerns, opening glass wall locking mechanisms must be easy to use. Opening glass walls can be specified to be very secure through robust systems that securely lock each panel in place.
Photos courtesy of NanaWall
Opening glass walls provide great design flexibility for hospitality and retail spaces while at the same time offering performance options consistent with green and sustainable design.
Rooftop and Outdoor Spaces
Accessing outdoor spaces is desirable in retail and hospitality settings because it is appealing to guests, potentially profitable to building owners, and environmentally sustainable. Outdoor spaces are seen as amenities in many settings, allowing guests to have a more enjoyable experience enhanced by fresh air and the outdoor environment. Bringing more guests to the venues, whether for events or day-to-day activities, means more business for the owners. When those outdoor spaces are roof decks or terraces, they present an opportunity to design them as green roofs or other sustainable spaces. The key becomes how to create them without damaging the existing roofing systems.
The answer to this design challenge is often found in modular and versatile deck systems that are supported by adjustable pedestals. Such systems give architects the design flexibility to create unique and beautiful rooftop environments and outdoor amenity spaces. Adjustable pedestal deck systems can be utilized over any structural surface: on bare structural decks, rooftop decks, roof membranes, green roofs, plazas/terraces, compacted grade, pavement, pool surrounds, or even inside water features. The surfaces can include a mix of paver materials, such as wood, stone, structural porcelain, crushed rock, grating, artificial turf, and concrete. Additionally, planter cubes and benches can be added to create unique, custom looks. As a fully finished system, it can accommodate restaurants, hotels, retail, and other commercial buildings.
Green roof deck designs demonstrate imagination in the use of materials that minimize maintenance and the environmental footprint. Incorporating a pedestal system can provide pedestrian access to these green roofs and can expand usable space to include gardens and walkways. Similarly, pedestal deck systems help reduce cooling loads of the building because they create a separate, protective layer above the roof that allows air to flow between the deck and the roof.
Adjustable deck systems are commonly available that incorporate three types of components.
Photo: © Mike Schwartz; courtesy of Bison Innovative Products
The 21c Museum Hotel in Oklahoma City incorporates adjustable deck pedestals and 2x2 smooth 8-plank ipê wood tiles to crown the hotel’s rooftop deck. The attractive space includes outdoor lounging, recreation, and green roof areas framing the Ford assembly plant’s water tower from the original Albert Kahn design.
Deck Supports
High-density polypropylene plastic that is 100 percent recyclable is a common material to make the adjustable deck supports from. This makes them impervious to water, mold, and freeze-thaw cycles. Their adjustability offers tremendous design flexibility and, compared to traditional deck building materials and methods, provides one of the most labor- and cost-efficient methods of creating a flat, level deck over a sloped surface. As a gravity system, the supports do not penetrate but rather protect roofing and waterproofing membranes, thus causing no damage or harm to the surface below. Adjustable pedestal systems can support decks over occupied space, allowing space for electrical systems, duct work, and irrigation. Pedestal systems are available in a range of heights and weight-bearing capacities to suit a variety of applications. Residential, commercial, and industrial grades each have different characteristics, so deciding which system to specify is dependent on the support and elevation requirements of the installation.
Deck Surfaces
Deck supports are designed to elevate a variety of surfaces, including granite or concrete pavers, wood tiles, composite materials, fiberglass grating, and conventional joist systems. Any modular deck surface material can be removed for routine maintenance, repairs to the roof, or to gain access to other systems. Wood tiles are particularly popular for their light weight, ease of workability, and attractive appearance. Wood tiles can be laid in a parquet or linear pattern, or mixed with pavers, river rock, stone, plank decking, or other options to create unique aesthetics. Often made from hardwoods, wood species include fused bamboo, cumaru, garapa, ipê, mahogany, and massaranduba that are commercial grade and available in standard and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified products. Many of these tropical hardwoods have a rich grain and color, are exceptionally dense, weather very well, and are resistant to insects. The density of hardwood species means there is minimal maintenance. If maintaining the wood color is desired, wood tiles can be periodically cleaned and sealed. Left to weather naturally, they will develop a silvery-gray patina.
Site Furnishings
Manufacturers of pedestal deck systems also offer coordinated, modular elements that are designed to integrate with their deck systems while giving the architect complete design flexibility. For example, modular cubes made from ipê or high-strength aluminum in an array of colors and finishes can serve as planters or include a top for seating and/or storage. Cubes commonly have drain holes and irrigation sleeves that make caring for plants or vegetables convenient and hassle free. Storage can be used for seasonal items like cushions or throw pillows. Similarly, aluminum rock trays that are light weight and durable add dimension and texture to deck areas. Deck designs can even include recessed lighting to enhance the ambiance of the environment while improving visibility and safety during nighttime or other dark conditions.
Overall, pedestal systems create valuable, usable outdoor space for both owners and their clients, customers, and visitors. Rooftop decks are a way for hospitality or retail spaces to differentiate themselves from the competition.
The transformation of the building industry to be greener and achieve better energy performance over the past several decades is evident everywhere. While great progress has been made, there is still more to do, particularly in the hospitality and retail sector, which is typically a very large consumer of energy. Since a lot of energy consumption usually means a lot of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere, designers of hospitality and retail buildings are in a position to make a big impact. Hospitality buildings are also large consumers of water, so finding ways to manage and conserve water in these settings can also be significant. This course will look at some of the current initiatives that design professionals can tap into and some examples of strategies that can be employed to reduce these aspects of the environmental footprint for hospitality and retail facilities of all types.
Photo: © Brad Feinknopf/OTTO; courtesy of Bison Innovative Products
Hospitality and retail buildings are being designed to embrace the environment and increase their sustainability, as shown here at the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina, designed by Cooper Carry.
Indoor/Outdoor Spaces
There are many cases in hospitality and retail settings where taking advantage of an outside space connected to an indoor one is very desirable. Doing so can create either positive or negative impacts on the energy performance of the building, depending on how it is done. The issue becomes one of control between the indoors and outdoors. A great example of this is the use of operable glass walls. When open, they provide a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, often reducing the need for constructed square footage, while providing natural ventilation to the interior. When closed, high-performance operable glass walls become part of the building envelope, providing a thermal separation between indoors and outdoors while still allowing natural daylight and views.
The key to a successful project is the selection of a quality operable glass wall product that can handle the daily commercial grind that a hospitality and retail environment requires (i.e., has demonstrated traits of reliability, long-term durability, ease of use for the employee, etc.). To contribute to the green and sustainable aspects of the building, it needs to meet the challenges of changing weather and environmental conditions, such as wind, water, and large temperature swings. Of course, it also needs to fit in with the building structural system, resisting impacts and forced entry. Fortunately, all of these components can be specified into operable glass walls, making them excellent candidates for meeting the desires of hospitality and retail clients while still addressing energy performance, carbon contributions, and green building.
How does this all play out in design? Opening glass walls enable hotel designers to create large, inviting entrances, incorporate beautiful views, connect with hotel landscaping, and provide natural daylight and fresh air into registration, dining, and guestroom areas. For retail spaces, a wide-open entrance eliminates barriers by creating a seamless transition between street and store, attracting customers inside, which can lead to an increase in sales. With expanded display areas, shoppers are enticed and are readily drawn deep into the store. When it is time to close, the storefront can continue to showcase the interior and provides a secure, energy-efficient, transparent facade that seals tight as an energy-saving and dust-control measure after-hours. Restaurants can boost revenue with increased seating capacity and enhance dining experiences by installing opening glass walls to open a restaurant’s interior to surrounding outdoor spaces, whether a roofed or open patio.
From a performance standpoint, operable glass walls must keep the cold on the outside while maintaining warmth inside in heating season and vice versa in cooling season. All of the usual means to do that are available in operable glass walls, including glazing choices, air infiltration details, and frame options. The products must provide superior humidity and moisture control while resisting wind-driven water from entering the establishment. To meet security concerns, opening glass wall locking mechanisms must be easy to use. Opening glass walls can be specified to be very secure through robust systems that securely lock each panel in place.
Photos courtesy of NanaWall
Opening glass walls provide great design flexibility for hospitality and retail spaces while at the same time offering performance options consistent with green and sustainable design.
Rooftop and Outdoor Spaces
Accessing outdoor spaces is desirable in retail and hospitality settings because it is appealing to guests, potentially profitable to building owners, and environmentally sustainable. Outdoor spaces are seen as amenities in many settings, allowing guests to have a more enjoyable experience enhanced by fresh air and the outdoor environment. Bringing more guests to the venues, whether for events or day-to-day activities, means more business for the owners. When those outdoor spaces are roof decks or terraces, they present an opportunity to design them as green roofs or other sustainable spaces. The key becomes how to create them without damaging the existing roofing systems.
The answer to this design challenge is often found in modular and versatile deck systems that are supported by adjustable pedestals. Such systems give architects the design flexibility to create unique and beautiful rooftop environments and outdoor amenity spaces. Adjustable pedestal deck systems can be utilized over any structural surface: on bare structural decks, rooftop decks, roof membranes, green roofs, plazas/terraces, compacted grade, pavement, pool surrounds, or even inside water features. The surfaces can include a mix of paver materials, such as wood, stone, structural porcelain, crushed rock, grating, artificial turf, and concrete. Additionally, planter cubes and benches can be added to create unique, custom looks. As a fully finished system, it can accommodate restaurants, hotels, retail, and other commercial buildings.
Green roof deck designs demonstrate imagination in the use of materials that minimize maintenance and the environmental footprint. Incorporating a pedestal system can provide pedestrian access to these green roofs and can expand usable space to include gardens and walkways. Similarly, pedestal deck systems help reduce cooling loads of the building because they create a separate, protective layer above the roof that allows air to flow between the deck and the roof.
Adjustable deck systems are commonly available that incorporate three types of components.
Photo: © Mike Schwartz; courtesy of Bison Innovative Products
The 21c Museum Hotel in Oklahoma City incorporates adjustable deck pedestals and 2x2 smooth 8-plank ipê wood tiles to crown the hotel’s rooftop deck. The attractive space includes outdoor lounging, recreation, and green roof areas framing the Ford assembly plant’s water tower from the original Albert Kahn design.
Deck Supports
High-density polypropylene plastic that is 100 percent recyclable is a common material to make the adjustable deck supports from. This makes them impervious to water, mold, and freeze-thaw cycles. Their adjustability offers tremendous design flexibility and, compared to traditional deck building materials and methods, provides one of the most labor- and cost-efficient methods of creating a flat, level deck over a sloped surface. As a gravity system, the supports do not penetrate but rather protect roofing and waterproofing membranes, thus causing no damage or harm to the surface below. Adjustable pedestal systems can support decks over occupied space, allowing space for electrical systems, duct work, and irrigation. Pedestal systems are available in a range of heights and weight-bearing capacities to suit a variety of applications. Residential, commercial, and industrial grades each have different characteristics, so deciding which system to specify is dependent on the support and elevation requirements of the installation.
Deck Surfaces
Deck supports are designed to elevate a variety of surfaces, including granite or concrete pavers, wood tiles, composite materials, fiberglass grating, and conventional joist systems. Any modular deck surface material can be removed for routine maintenance, repairs to the roof, or to gain access to other systems. Wood tiles are particularly popular for their light weight, ease of workability, and attractive appearance. Wood tiles can be laid in a parquet or linear pattern, or mixed with pavers, river rock, stone, plank decking, or other options to create unique aesthetics. Often made from hardwoods, wood species include fused bamboo, cumaru, garapa, ipê, mahogany, and massaranduba that are commercial grade and available in standard and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified products. Many of these tropical hardwoods have a rich grain and color, are exceptionally dense, weather very well, and are resistant to insects. The density of hardwood species means there is minimal maintenance. If maintaining the wood color is desired, wood tiles can be periodically cleaned and sealed. Left to weather naturally, they will develop a silvery-gray patina.
Site Furnishings
Manufacturers of pedestal deck systems also offer coordinated, modular elements that are designed to integrate with their deck systems while giving the architect complete design flexibility. For example, modular cubes made from ipê or high-strength aluminum in an array of colors and finishes can serve as planters or include a top for seating and/or storage. Cubes commonly have drain holes and irrigation sleeves that make caring for plants or vegetables convenient and hassle free. Storage can be used for seasonal items like cushions or throw pillows. Similarly, aluminum rock trays that are light weight and durable add dimension and texture to deck areas. Deck designs can even include recessed lighting to enhance the ambiance of the environment while improving visibility and safety during nighttime or other dark conditions.
Overall, pedestal systems create valuable, usable outdoor space for both owners and their clients, customers, and visitors. Rooftop decks are a way for hospitality or retail spaces to differentiate themselves from the competition.
Sustainable Bathrooms
In hospitality and retail settings, bathrooms typically get a lot of use, which means they deserve a lot of design attention. This is true not only for design and functionality but also sustainability. Manufacturers of products used in bathrooms have addressed these points by paying attention to several areas that contribute to green bathroom design. Some of the more significant points in this regard are discussed as follows.
Photo courtesy of Bradley Corp.
Commercial bathrooms incorporate a variety of materials, most of which can be selected from sustainable or
green product choices.
Water Consumption
Water-conserving toilets and faucets are mandated by codes. Manufacturers have embraced this need by providing fixtures that dispense adequate amounts of water with the appearance of abundance. Newer, touch-free handwashing fixtures feature a 0.5 gallon per minute (GPM) or ultra-high-efficiency 0.35 GPM faucet option.
Materials
A variety of materials can be specified into bathroom designs that have better life-cycle assessment properties than others. For example, natural quartz material has become appealing because it can be molded into round and curved shapes providing stunning design options while providing high performance in terms of long-term durability and hygiene. Made from natural materials, such as quartz and granite, plus pre-consumer recycled content and a bio-based resin, natural quartz can contain up to 70 percent natural content and is available as a GREENGUARD certified product.
Similarly, solid-surface material can last longer than some other material choices and easily be repaired and renewed, thus minimizing the need for replacement or disposal. Products made of solid surface are completely molded, including bowls, overflows, backsplashes and aprons, eliminating fabrication waste and the use of sealants and adhesives. Solid surface is a nonporous material, which means that it will not support the growth of mold, mildew, or bacteria—substances that can adversely affect indoor air quality. Recycled solid surface composed of bio-based resin and pre-consumer recycled granules is another GREENGUARD certified option.
Commercial bathroom accessories made of stainless steel can be specified from manufacturers who incorporate both recycled content and renewable energy in its manufacturing process. Up to 100 percent of the energy required for the production of some stainless steel bathroom accessories can be offset with renewable energy. These accessories can also be made from a combination of post-consumer and pre-consumer stainless steel.
Photos courtesy of Bradley Corp.
Innovative products for commercial bathrooms include the wash bar shown above, which incorporates soap, water, and drying all in one fixture at the sink.
Design Innovations
By using manufacturing innovations and processes, recycled packaging and materials, and award-winning product design, manufacturers are improving their contributions to green building design. While this is helpful, they also offer completely touch-free handwashing technology that conserves water and paper while cutting maintenance costs. Touch-free, adjustable-speed hand dryers, for example, cut paper towel waste and are 96 percent less expensive to use than paper towels.
A particular innovation that helps all around is the development of a combination fixture that provides soap dispensing, water, and drying all in one, touchless, easy-to-use approach. This helps reduce consumption of water and energy while keeping everything in one place at the sink, thus helping with the overall cleanliness of the bathroom as well. The sensors in such devices can be programmed to eliminate simultaneous activations of nearby functions, thus saving wasted water and energy.
Kris Alderson, senior marketing manager, Bradley Corp., informs, “Commercial bathroom manufacturers are providing architects and other design professionals with innovative technologies and products that conserve water and energy and incorporate sustainable materials.” This is good news for everyone. It is, however, up to the design professionals to select and specify accordingly.
Prepackaged Bathrooms
In hospitality settings, the number of bathrooms located throughout the building is typically quite high. Even if each one is small, as in a hotel guestroom, the fact that there is one in every guestroom plus more in common areas means that their cumulative overall impact is high. This is true in terms of affecting the building design, the amount of square footage needed, the sustainability of the project, and the project budget. Given all of this, it is not surprising that a number of companies have developed prepackaged bathrooms that are designed to reduce these impacts by optimizing the way that bathroom components are ordered and installed. This prepackaging approach can reduce building cost, minimize material waste, enhance overall sustainability, and increase the speed to occupancy.
Many areas of construction are adopting this systems-level thinking to buildings. The general premise is that the design can be fully customized, while standard parts are used to maintain cost control. This is the well-known model of “mass customization” as employed in other industries, such as personal computers, automobiles, and aircraft. In the case of constructing bathrooms, it means that a design professional can work with a manufacturer/supplier from the beginning of the design process to develop a high-performance, appealing, complete bathroom package. This team approach allows for design optimization and a fuller understanding of options, including those related to sustainability. As part of an integrated design process, it also simplifies the overall flow of information and follow-through. Once the design is finalized, then the fabrication can proceed, typically with a higher degree of quality control than if it were all field constructed.
Prepackaged bath kits are fully assembled in order of installation at the warehouse and can be securely packaged into an innovative cradle delivery system. This method of delivery is designed to eliminate component damage, resulting in lower defects while maintaining quality products. As they are completed, based on an agreed-upon schedule, the final modules or packages can be trucked to the site. With proper planning, as the trucks arrive, the packaged units can be lifted with cranes and placed into position in the building as it is being constructed. That means they can be installed more quickly and with much less waste than conventional construction methods.
To expedite the remaining work in the field, a sequential installation guide can be provided by the manufacturer/assembler. The fully coordinated system can include all of the common design elements of a complete bathroom. These can include a full tub with surrounding structure, toilet and vanity with sink, countertop (quartz or other surface), and faucets. Also included in the kit, the needed fasteners, paint, and caulk can be provided for the final on-site assembly. It can further include all of the accessories of a bathroom such as mirrors and towel racks. In short, the customized bath kit can be fully comprehensive and tailored for a range of product options based on the needs of the specific unit and/or entire building.
Trevor Schick, head of the KOVA materials business, has been actively engaged in this innovative bathroom delivery process. He says, “A primary goal is to offer solutions to the challenges builders and contractors face during a project, and installing a bathroom is historically one of the most expensive and time-consuming parts of a build.” Schick goes on to point out the positive impact he has observed on the typical construction schedule, stating, “What used to require months of staggered trades and material deliveries can now be accomplished in less than one day by two people.”
Photos courtesy of KOVA
Custom-designed, prepackaged bath kits are ideal for streamlining the process of installing multiple bathrooms into hospitality buildings, among others.
Architectural Metalwork and HVAC Grille Specialties
When designing a green or sustainable building, the use of rating systems and standards helps in determining the degree to which different goals are achieved. While programs like LEED and WELL recognize different certification levels, allowing designers to pick and choose which attributes to pursue, full certification in the Living Building Challenge (LBC) requires that 100 percent of the building needs comply with the criteria. The LBC does allow recognition for individual petals that make up the total program, but all of the requirements for the petals must be met. The implication of this total approach is that everything in the design and/or specifications for a project needs to be looked at through the lens of a truly regenerative, healthy, and positive built environment. This can be easy to think of for the major components of a building such as structure, facades, finishes, etc., but total compliance means that it applies to specialty products too, such as accessories, trims, grilles, and similar items used in a building.
To illustrate this concept, let us take a look at a common and required product in most hospitality and retail buildings in the form of metal grilles, which cover HVAC openings or can be used for decorative and supporting purposes in walls, floors, and ceilings. Of course, there are choices in such products, and many come with a variety of attributes. They can offer a high-quality, custom product, giving architects and designers the freedom to design with luxury decorative metalwork and still be mindful that they are getting an environmentally friendly product. Aluminum is widely used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning because of its resistance to corrosion and the extremes of heat and cold. It is also fully recyclable and can be reused time and time again with no loss in quality.
Green aluminum products are available for interior and exterior applications, which can provide a functional and aesthetic solution for architects and designers when trying to achieve certification for projects.
When used in a building pursuing LEED or LBC certification, architectural grilles need to be looked at and assessed on several fronts:
- Recycled metal content: Up to 94 percent post-consumer content recycled aluminum is possible and should be part of the specification for linear bar grilles, perforated grilles, or custom-fabricated products.
- Durability and ease of maintenance: The most sustainable product is one that lasts and does not need to be replaced or repaired unduly over time.
- Finishes: If any finish is used on the grilles, it needs to have low or zero volatile organic compound (VOC) content to qualify for a health-related certification. Some powder coatings that are electrostatically applied and then cured under heat without the use of solvents may be the best choice here.
Just like other products used in a building, the use of Declare labels issued by the International Living Future Institute can be asked for and used to compare different manufactured products based on the relevant criteria above. This information can be used for LBC projects, but note too that Declare has been approved as a compliance pathway for the LEED v4 Building Product Disclosure and Optimization Credit, Option 1. Regardless of the program being pursued, all products of all sizes and types used in a building need the transparent data and information that such declarations provide.
Edward Wawrynek, a customer service specialist with ARCHITECTURAL GRILLE, informs, “Manufacturers of metal specialties are committed to sustainability, responsibly sourcing recycled metals, and using environmentally friendly, non-Red List materials in our manufacturing processes. Some are able to meet Living Building Challenge requirements and are certified to provide eco-friendly grilles to hospitality and retail buildings or other projects.” Specifying accordingly improves the sustainability of hospitality buildings where they are used.
Photos courtesy of ARCHITECTURAL GRILLE
Aluminum HVAC grilles with 94 percent post-consumer recycled content used in green buildings or following the Living Building Challenge are as significant as any other building product when total compliance with standards is required.
Designing with Coiled Wire Fabric
In hospitality and retail settings, there may be a need to provide a degree of separation between different spaces without the use of a solid wall or partition. In fact, it may even be desirable to provide some controlled connectivity between spaces for visual, airflow, sound, or other reasons. A number of different products have been used to achieve this effect, particularly in interiors, but an emerging, innovative choice is the use of a coiled wire fabric. Such products are different from traditional metal mesh materials in that they are designed as architectural products for use in a variety of ways.
Coiled wire fabric is a durable, thin material that is lighter in weight than traditional wire mesh and offers more design flexibility. For interiors, architects and designers can use coiled wire fabric for curtains, ceiling treatments, wall coverings, security gates, and even as complete partitions, all adding elegance and purpose to spaces. On hospitality and retail exteriors, it can be used for sun shading, security protection, resilience enhancements, or aesthetic facade treatments. It is available with a range of attachment systems, allowing for different building conditions and finish treatments. The material can be left to hang (i.e., flowing freely) or secured at both the top and bottom and pulled taut to create a semi-rigid condition. Because of its fabric nature, curved and undulating shapes are easily achieved, providing interiors with more character and vitality than rectilinear shapes alone.
Coiled wire fabric can contribute to green building design in a number of ways. It has been tested and shown to be an easy and attractive way to save on air-conditioning costs by limiting the amount of sunlight entering the building. When used on the interior of windows, coiled wire fabric can reduce energy consumption by up to 5.7 percent and up to 21.3 percent when used for exterior shading scrim panels. Uniquely, the metal fabric does not block views to the outside like typical window curtains do. For retrofit applications where advanced high-performance glazing has not been installed, coiled wire fabric systems can be especially effective.
As a metal material, coiled wire fabric is a durable product with a long service life. It can contain recycled content and is 100 percent recyclable when it is removed from service. When used on building interiors, it is worth noting that no toxic chemicals are used in the material’s manufacturing process. Some even carry Declare labels, indicating the degree to which human health and the environment are protected by the products. Declare labels give consumers full transparency on the product, including where it comes from, what it is made of, and where it goes at the end of its life cycle.
Photos courtesy of Cascade Architectural
The Casbar Lounge at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas uses coiled wire fabric to provide separation and connectivity between spaces while also acting as an artistic light screen.
Specifying Coiled Wire Fabric
When selecting a coiled wire fabric system for a hospitality or retail project, there are a lot of different choices in the details of how it can be specified. Following are some aspects to keep in mind when specifying and designing with this innovative material.
- Material makeup: Coiled wire fabric systems begin with a base metal wire in varieties of steel, aluminum, brass, copper, and stainless steel. The choice of the wire material and its gauge impact the weight, functionality, and aesthetics of the final fabric. By altering the base material, wire gauges, weave pattern, and finishes, the strength, rigidity, and appearance can all be chosen to meet thte design or performance characteristics being sought. It is worth noting that the fabric is available in virtually unlimited widths and up to 40 feet in length or height, so large installations can be achieved with a single panel in many cases. For projects needing more than a 40-foot span of fabric, multiple coils can be spliced together at the job site in a routine fashion and still create a continuous appearance.
- Light transparency: Coiled wire fabric will allow light to pass through, but how much and how visually transparent it appears will be based directly on the specified makeup of a particular fabric. Those with thicker wires and tighter weaves will allow less light than those with thinner wires and more open weaves. Architects and designers can vary the level of transparency by altering these factors to suit their needs. Fullness is another factor that designers can alter to vary the level of light able to pass through the coiled wire fabric. By using more material than what is required to cover a given area, a billowing drapery effect may be achieved, causing the mesh to overlap, which can be used to allow in more or less light.
- Formability: As with any fabric type of product, coiled wire fabric is free flowing and flexible. That means it can be formed and shaped to create undulating or curved surfaces, flat taut surfaces, or a combination of any of these. This allows for a high degree of creativity in how spaces are defined and articulated, both for walls and ceilings.
- Color: Coiled wire fabric is available in either a natural, uncoated state or with resilient powder-coating finishes for a sharp, long-lasting aesthetic. The color choices are broad, allowing it to be a successful part of virtually any design scheme. Further, the finishes can be specified with low VOC content or even Declare labels to protect human health when used on interiors.
- Performance traits: Coiled wire fabric can be used for light diffusion to further enhance the interior ambient lighting of a space. In appropriate strengths, it can provide partitioning for safety, fall protection, blast mitigation, and security. Further, if there is an interest in extending its use to the exterior, the material is durable enough to withstand those rigors as well.
- Cost-effectiveness: Compared to the full construction of rigid partitions or other separation elements, coiled wire fabric is a very affordable option. It is also more economical than commercial woven wire mesh that is typically designed for other purposes. This affordability lets architects and designers flex their creativity, produce signature interior designs, and turn projects with modest budgets into something unique, innovative, and responsive to project needs.
Designers who recognize the innovative uses of this product and its green building traits can achieve successful outcomes in hospitality and retail settings.
Photos courtesy of Cascade Architectural
At the W Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona, coiled wire fabric is used both as an interior visual design element and an energy-saving sunscreen on windows. A typical exterior screen detail is shown as well.
Conclusion
Hospitality and retail facilities have the opportunity to demonstrate a wide variety of green and sustainable building practices. This is true when incorporating innovative ways to create and link indoor and outdoor spaces. It can make an impact in bathroom design and in prepackaging of the components of multiple bathroom units. Focusing on materials that use recycled metals in innovative ways assists in reducing the environmental footprint and achieving green building certifications. Overall, hospitality and retail buildings can be a big part of the modern green building movement.
