Innovations Encourage Green Renovations

Green components help meet renovation goals for both energy efficiency and modernization.
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Sponsored by Bradley Corp., CETCO, Eldorado Stone, Pella Commercial and THE SLIDING DOOR COMPANY®
Celeste Allen Novak, AIA, LEED AP

CASE STUDIES

Restoring a 100-Year-Old School

Windows at the William C. McGinnis Middle School in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, are designed with integral between-the-glass blinds for sun control.

Photo courtesy of Pella Commercial

Program needs demanded the total area of McGinnis School in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to increase by 33 percent. Set in a densely populated urban area, the 104,000-sq-ft middle school had limited choices for expansion. No other building sites were available for a new facility—and two of the existing school’s walls sat on its property lines, making an addition out of the question.

Architect Steve Carlidge of Vitetta Group found an additional 28,000 sq ft of a space within the 100-year-old structure by enclosing an interior courtyard, adding a mezzanine level, turning the auditorium balcony into library space, and converting the basement into a cafeteria by relocating the mechanical systems to the attic—while also restoring its original turn-of-the-century character. Now the updated building fits the needs of the school district and is a source of pride for the entire community.

The design team chose custom aluminum-clad, wood, double-hung windows with fixed transoms to replace existing aluminum windows that were in disrepair. Original circle head windows—which had been boarded up in the 1950s—were also replaced and fixed frame windows were incorporated into the octagonal staircase area to help bring abundant natural light into the space.

To help the architect meet the challenges of the window retrofit, the window manufacturer designed a custom sub-frame installation based on their on-site measurement of the window openings. They provided all of the technical resources needed to plan, design and detail the window portion of the project—including turnkey fabrication and installation. Because of maintenance and safety concerns, as well as control of dust allergens, the architect chose products with blinds between-the-glass. These custom windows provide light and ventilation to the classrooms while also protecting window treatments from dust and damage. The glazing system incorporates custom muntins in order to create the appearance of historically accurate divided lights, yet still accommodate blinds between-the-glass. According to research, the original wood windows had tan exteriors. The aluminum cladding provided a perfect match to the original color with its standard tan finish, and it’s virtually maintenance-free. On the interior, the windows’ wood-stained frames add the warmth and beauty of the original wood design to the classrooms.


City of Los Angeles Adopts New Green Code

Although the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has its own building code based on the state and international codes, as of January 11, 2011, it also adopted a new green code. The city had already been requiring specific testing of building materials prior to their acceptance on city projects. This stringent third-party testing program can often cost a manufacturer thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars for registration as an approved product by the city. Additional testing can gain approval for the material to be certified as a methane gas barrier (for use in underground installations).

In 2009, the City of Los Angeles needed to replace the waterproofing membrane in the split-slab deck at the police department’s heliport located on the top deck of the four-story Piper Tech Center building. The contractor had only a 90-day schedule to complete the 130,000-sq-ft installation. The contractor selected a thermoplastic membrane with an intergral hydrophilic barrier layer approved by the City’s strict material testing program. He was able to install the system on top of the existing deck without extensive preparation work to remove all residual coal tar pitch waterproofing of the existing system. This reduced substrate preparation work facilitated the installation to be completed 25 days early.

The new fiberglass windows for Mitchell Hall successfully match the existing window profiles.

Photo courtesy of Pella Commercial


Mitchell Hall Gets Energy-Efficient Window Overhaul

Replacing windows, particularly in a historic building can be a challenge to designers who want to provide high-performance, energy-efficient windows without sacrificing appearance. The Hartman + Majewski Design Group’s mission was to reintroduce Mitchell Hall as a 21st century education facility that emphasizes student and faculty collaboration through improved technology, amenities, comfort and infrastructure operations. At the core of this mission was the desire for greater environmental sustainability, while preserving the historic integrity of the building. Mitchell Hall is one of the oldest classroom buildings on the University of New Mexico’s campus. Constructed in 1950, the two-story, Spanish-style concrete structure hadn’t received a major remodel since it was built. As a result, Mitchell Hall was one of the most energy-inefficient buildings on campus—with 60-year-old single-pane steel-framed windows contributing to its high-energy usage and uncomfortable interior environment.

The project was designed to achieve a LEED® Silver rating; LEED Gold is currently expected. Along with a more efficient mechanical system and enhanced lighting controls with sensors, fixed-frame fiberglass composite windows helped contribute to specific LEED points on the project. Because Mitchell Hall was under consideration for historic registry, careful attention needed to be made with the replacement window choice. The original steel windows had narrow sightlines—they were stacked vertically with 1-in widths in-between the glazing.

The project team’s original plan was to replace them with aluminum windows. However, they were able to replicate the appearance of the windows with ENERGY STAR® fiberglass windows with low-e insulating glass that provided better thermal efficiency, durability as well as substantial cost savings over the aluminum windows originally specified. To preserve the historic character of the building, the manufacturer provided fixed windows with applied muntins and sightlines that created an acceptable match to the original windows.

Application of an innovative waterproofing system reduced waste and decreased construction time at the City of LA Police Department Heliport.

Photo courtesy of CETCO

CONCLUSION

As shown, a variety of innovative products are available to designers. Evaluating a product goes beyond its environmental make-up and should include the life-cycle analysis of a product. As seen in this article—from high-performance exterior windows with integral between-the glass blinds, to self-sealing waterproofing, and from lightweight manufactured stone veneer products to flexible sliding partitions—there are numerous ways to take advantage of the innovations provided by these products. They are modular, factory built, or engineered for high performance and responsive to client's environmental requirements.

For the next few years, design professionals will find numerous opportunities to market green renovations by using innovative products that promote change and the renewal of existing properties. Sustainable, green renovations are a segment that is expected to continue to expand the design and construction market.

Architect Celeste Allen Novak, AIA, LEED AP, specializes in sustainable design and planning in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Endnotes

1. www.buildingtrades.org/getattachment/Newsroom/Latest-News/Industry-Headlines/CONSTRUCTION-INDUSTRY-–-OUTLOOK-AND-PROJECTIONS-FO/Bernstein,Harvey.pdf.aspx
2. info.aia.org/aiarchitect/2011/charts/consensus-survey/january/january.html#
3. www.aerias.org/uploads/Linking%20IAQ%20and%20Asthma%20in%20Schools.pdf
4. www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5isNavMO9o6zbGyIt5rUipieaJdtA

 

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Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in July 2011

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Innovations Encourage Green Renovations
Buyer's Guide
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