High-Pressure Laminates in Rainscreen Facade
Materials and Resources
When looking at a life-cycle assessment (LCA) for HPL panels, several traits help produce very favorable results. First, they are primarily made from wood-based products. Wood is a natural, renewable resource that is increasingly praised for taking CO2 out of the atmosphere, thus helping to reduce greenhouse gases and counteract global climate change. Second, some HPL manufactures can supply materials that carry certifications from recognized sustainable forestry organizations, such as Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). These certifications help to assure that the product used in the panels has been grown and harvested in a manner that meets the stringent sustainability requirements of those certifications. Third, as a long-lasting, durable product that resists UV rays, weather, and needs little maintenance, it will not likely need to be replaced during the life of the building. This creates a very sustainable facade, thus contributing to positive LCAs.
Relatedly, the light weight and standard sizing mean more efficiency and less energy used in transporting the HPL panels from the manufacturer to the job site. At the end of their service life, HPL panels can be reclaimed and reused. Some manufacturers actively seek to reclaim and reuse HPL that is removed from buildings, thus encouraging this practice.
Image courtesy of Trespa North America Ltd.
When specifying HPL panels, it is important to identify the types, finishes, colors, and sizes required from manufacturers' offerings.
Energy Optimization
Some detailed studies have been done on the use of rainscreen facade systems related to energy use in buildings. In particular, a September 2019 study of HPL cladding in a rainscreen system was carried out by the energy services firm of Efcore in Barcelona, Spain. It analyzed actual buildings and simulated conditions, and concluded the following:
- A ventilated facade using the HPL system tested demonstrated continuous thermal protection of the full facade assembly in both summer and winter, including extra solar protection in the summertime.
- A ventilated facade assembly as properly constructed eliminates the loss of energy caused by thermal bridges in both summer and winter.
- Ventilated facades eliminate the risk of condensation and humidity in the wall assembly and interior, which it cites as better for human health.
- Ventilated facades improve energy savings.
- The HPL cladding panels help prevent overheating due to solar insolation.
- The ventilated airspace can lower the external surface temperature of the facade by up to 59 degrees Fahrenheit/15 degrees Celsius.
- The heating effect of dark-colored facades can be minimized by the use of ventilated facades that absorb and evacuate the heat.
Based on these findings, ventilated rainscreen facades using HPL panels have been shown to be an effective approach to help control and optimize energy usage in buildings.
Overall, HPL ventilated rainscreens can be properly designed to contribute in numerous ways toward LEED certification or other green building standards.
Specifying HPL Facade Systems
When specifying HPL facades, there are clearly numerous choices and options from which to choose. Coordination with manufacturers during the design phases of a project will help gain insight for project-specific cost drivers, installation nuances, and the latest options. Some relevant items to address in a standard three-part specification format are highlighted as follows.
Case Study #2
Photos courtesy of Trespa North America Ltd.
Project: James J. Whalen Center for Music
Location: Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York
Architect: King + King Architects
Fabricator/Installer: Gitzen Co.
System: Visible (exposed) fixing with screws on an aluminum subframe
The Project: Since the original construction of Ford Hall in 1962, Ithaca College has expanded its programs and grown to nearly 7,000 full-time students. The James J. Whalen Center for Music, named for the College’s sixth president in 1999, has served as the main building for Ithaca College’s School of Music since 1965. The 69,000-square-foot building houses the original Ford Hall, a 246-seat recital hall, a recording studio, rehearsal rooms, and more than 30 faculty studios. The Whalen Center is centrally located on the main campus.
The Challenge: To accommodate the growing student population, the College determined that the time had come for renovation and expansion of the Whalen Center. It also became clear that the building had fallen into severe disrepair. The exterior concrete panels were failing and beginning to crumble over the entrance, creating a dangerous scenario for visitors attending concerts at the School of Music. The College made the tough decision to close the main entrance to the public to prevent any injuries to pedestrians. With more than 300 yearly concerts and events already booked, time and safety were the most critical factor in decisions regarding the necessary renovations.
The Design Solution: The College tasked the architectural firm of King + King to design a solution that could be completed during the summer season when the campus was not quite as active. Even then, however, there would still be student safety to consider since the College hosts numerous band camps. Both the architects and the College wanted to update the hall’s look without losing the distinguished feel of the building.
The Facade Solution: An exterior cladding product with a great deal of design flexibility was needed to reclad the massive building while keeping the process streamlined. As such, an HPL facade with an English cherry appearance was chosen. Marrying the wood aesthetic with exposed fasteners harmonized the building’s original Modernist design with Ithaca’s prestigious heritage. Also, the option to use large panel sizes offered the simplistic aesthetic the College wanted for this building. The scale of the larger panels with the increased size of the building simply made sense.
As a high-quality exterior material with a reputation for easy handling, HPL panels helped ensure that the recladding of the building's facade was completed before the 2014 fall semester began. The HPL panels offered long-lasting durability and low maintenance, allowing the College to avoid its current problem of deteriorating external materials in the future. The low maintenance would also keep the renovation looking new despite the heavy foot traffic around and throughout the campus’ central building.
The Results: Dustin Ehrlich of King + King commented on the project, saying, “As a designer, I appreciated the various panel sizes available, which allowed us the flexibility to create an efficient solution that was compatible with the building’s existing structure. Considering the height of the installation though, it was the lack of maintenance required for the HPL panels that became the deciding factor for Ithaca College.”
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