GLAZING PROTECTION CASE STUDY

Photos courtesy of C.R. Laurence Co., Inc.

Project: California ISO Headquarters
Location: Folsom, California
Architect: Dreyfuss + Blackford
General Contractor: Clark Construction

The Project: California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO) manages the state’s entire high-voltage electrical grid. A mission of the organization is to increase the amount of renewable energy to usher in a sustainable green grid of the future. Keeping with this objective, Cal ISO developed its new state-of-the-art headquarters in Folsom, California, to be a model for energy-efficient programming. Designed by Dreyfuss & Blackford Architects, the high-tech facility spans 277,000 square feet and is situated on 25 acres of verdant grassland and native oak trees. Three interconnected wings serve specialized functions, one of which acts as the center’s operations control room.

The Resilient Design: To meet ambitious sustainability and resilient design goals, Cal ISO headquarters features several green building components. Since sustainability is seen as an effective way to achieve resilient design, this project meets multiple performance intents. Rooftop and field-mounted photovoltaic panels offset 20 percent of annual energy consumption and provide an on-site alternative to grid-only electric power. Water usage is reduced by 30 percent using innovative water management systems, further diminishing reliance on public infrastructure. Optimizing thermal performance was a key deliverable and is evident in the building envelope. Low-e insulating glass is bolstered with a dual thermally broken curtain wall to help keep building interiors comfortable in case of power outages. For enhanced protection from high temperatures, long spans of the building envelope are lined with aluminum sunshades. Using perforated panels, the sunshades not only help protect interiors from solar heat gain but also create a distinct visual element that enhances building aesthetics. The perforated panels have a notched design to allow ample daylight to enter while effectively blocking solar radiation during peak times to reduce cooling loads.

The Result: The new Cal ISO headquarters uses approximately 70 percent less energy than its previous building and has achieved LEED Platinum certification. Its high-performance thermal building envelope along with sustainability-focused systems and processes make it an industry standard for resilient and sustainable building design. As a result, it received the prestigious Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) National Award for Best Overall Project.

BUILDING PROTECTION CASE STUDY

Photo courtesy of Cascade Architectural

Project: Children’s Hospital New Orleans Parking Garage
Location: New Orleans
Architect: EYP Architecture

The Project: The recently renovated Children’s Hospital New Orleans is a $300 million multiphase campus transformation. It includes a new sky-bridge, exterior renovations to sections of the hospital’s facade, new additions to accommodate more beds and emergency rooms, and a 600-car (244,340-square-foot) parking garage.

The Design Challenge: The garage design relied on an open facade to allow for ventilation, but there was a corresponding need for the enclosure to provide protection from the elements and offer safety for occupants against falls. This was a critical component of the design process.

The Resilient Design Solution: When looking for a solution to help protect patients, visitors, and employees, architect EYP Architecture and Engineering selected coiled wire fabric as the best material to use on the parking garage facade. Moses Waindi, senior project architect at EYP Architecture and Engineering, explains that the coiled wire fabric system was a preferable fit for the project. “Coiled wire fabric presented a more cost-effective solution to wrapping the garage in metal mesh, and we also just preferred the inherent coiled design over other products,” he says.

The five-story parking garage features 40 panels of ³⁄₈-inch, 14-gauge coiled wire fabric in Type 316 stainless steel, which exhibits the highest level of corrosion resistance amongst all types of stainless steel. The panels run parallel vertically from the second story to the fifth, with smaller individual sections of coiled wire fabric spanning the perimeter of the ground level.

While the coiled wire fabric facade offers a higher degree of aesthetic value, it also offers protection from the elements during severe weather events by keeping flying debris at bay while allowing winds to penetrate through the garage. This prevents any pressure differentials from occurring while still providing a place of refuge for people if needed.

The Results: Functionally, the coiled wire fabric provides natural ventilation so that air can flow freely throughout and car fumes are not trapped within the structure. The panels also protect against rain, snow, and sun, effectively working to keep occupants more comfortable while walking from car to hospital and back. As an added safety precaution, the durable tensioned panels secure the structure’s perimeter, providing fall protection for anyone walking or parked near the outer edge of the garage or, in some cases, protection against intentional falls.