The new Animal Care and Protective Services building in Jacksonville, FL is the city’s first LEED-certified project.  The 41,000 sq. ft. facility is situated on a reclaimed brownfield site and has received LEED Gold Certification.

The design-build project was a collaboration of Ebert Norman Brady Architects and Auld & White Constructors.  Both firms are located in Jacksonville.  The new facility, which replaced an aging and overcrowded shelter, offers increased capacity and quality of care, adoption areas, medical treatment areas and public education space.

“We wanted the building to be modern and eye-catching since it’s very visible from the intersection of I-95 and I-10,” said Tom Norman, project manager and designer with Ebert Norman Brady.

Approximately 12,500 sq. ft. of 24 gauge PAC-CLAD 7.2” Rib and Perforated 7.2” Rib panels helped to accomplish the design objectives.  The panels were finished in Cardinal Red, Weathered Zinc and Interstate Blue.

“There were stringent budget parameters that required very careful selection of all materials,” according to Norman.  “The majority of the building where the animals are housed utilized single block concrete to stand up to the daily maintenance of washing down the floor and walls.  But in the administrative and public areas, we rejected stucco which is commonly used in this part of the country.  We selected metal panels to give us the contemporary, state-of-the-art look we wanted for the high profile site.  We’re hopeful that having a great looking building will provide a reminder for people to visit the shelter and consider adopting an animal.”

The 7.2 panels offer heavy horizontal shadow lines that were appealing for the low-slung building.  “We also punched the panels through to the interior reception area,” Norman said.  “The colors and materials give a nice definition to the various function areas.”

The PAC-CLAD 7.2 panels also provide a rainscreen barrier.  “The use of the metal panels provides both practicality and image,” reports Norman.  “When the project manager for the City of Jacksonville first toured the completed job, he said ‘man, this looks fantastic’.”

Installation of the Petersen panels was done by Thorne Metal Systems, Orange Park, FL.

Long-recognized as an industry leader in metal standing seam roofing products, Petersen also offers exposed fastener panels, flush panels, composite wall panels and column covers.  All provide the well-known Petersen quality and are available in PAC-CLAD® Kynar 500® finish in 38 standard colors on steel and aluminum.  Most colors meet LEED®, ENERGY STAR® and cool roof certification requirements.

For more information on the complete line of Petersen metal products, call 800-PAC-CLAD or visit www.pac-clad.com.

Over the past 25 years, I’ve been pleased to see the increasing amount of metal construction products—metal building systems, cold-formed steel stud framing, metal roofing and metal wall panels—that are being used in health care construction sectors, both for new projects and retrofit/renovation. This includes everything from single-practice offices to well-known, multi-story hospitals. In my opinion, there’s a vast potential for metal products in this growing market segment.

Let’s face it, as members of the Baby Boomer generation continue to march into their retirement years, there are going to be more ailments that require medical treatment. At the same time, due to an increased emphasis on preventative care, we’re likely to see growing numbers of younger people making regular visits to health care professionals. One thing for certain is that the need for health care facilities has seen remarkable growth over the past decade or two, and there is no apparent end in sight to the need for additional facilities.

With a tremendous amount of benefits to offer—from low life-cycle costs to environmental benefits to aesthetics—metal construction products appear poised to play key roles in future health care projects.

Shawn Zuver
editorial/content director
shawnz@designandbuildwithmetal.com
DesignandBuildwithMetal.com

click to enlarge

The new Sunrise Mainline Toll Plaza on the Sawgrass Expressway west of Ft. Lauderdale represents a transformation of the aging Expressway to a “highway of tomorrow.”  The $26 million design/build project offers the first open road tolling (ORT) in South Florida, using a double-span signature gantry for collection of tolls from high-speed vehicles.

The toll plaza utilizes approximately 11,000 sq. ft. of PAC-CLAD .032” corrugated aluminum panels.  The 7/8” panels were finished in Silver Metallic.  In addition, 5,400 sq. ft. of .125 plate aluminum was custom perforated and spray coated.

Miami-based MCM Corp. was the lead contractor and Orlando-based RS&H was the lead design firm and engineer of record.  “The assignment from the Florida Turnpike Enterprise was to create a ‘showcase toll plaza’,” according to Jesse Forst, project manager for RS&H.

The Sawgrass Expressway has become a major commuter corridor with more than 90,000 vehicles per day.  The toll plaza project included 1.33 miles of roadway widening north and south of the plaza and complete reconstruction of the approaches.

According to Forst, “The use of corrugated metal was part of the design/build criteria established by the Turnpike.  We designed the project to have a contrasting look between the corrugated and the perforated material.  The installation challenges involved detailing to make sure the two materials meshed together properly without creating maintenance or constructability problems.  It’s a great project and a definite toll road showcase in south Florida.”

Allied Architectural Metals, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, fabricated the custom perforated material as well as installed the corrugated panels and intricate trim details.

Produced in factory formed lengths up to 55 feet, Petersen’s PAC-CLAD Panels are Herr-Voss corrective leveled to provide superior flatness.  Longer lengths are available by consulting the factory.  All are available in 36 standard colors on steel and 34 standard colors on aluminum.

For more information on the complete line of Petersen metal roofing products, call 800-PAC-CLAD or visit www.pac-clad.com.

So what is green when it comes to our buildings? After six years of involvement in the green-building industry, I’ve learned that green doesn’t have to include easily identifiable materials and technologies, such as bamboo flooring and vegetated roofs. It doesn’t require a costly third-party certification either. Being green really can be quite simple. Whether you’re building new or retrofitting an existing building, keep the following tenets in mind:

There’s no “I” in team. It’s important to bring a team together early and often. Regular meetings should begin before the project starts and continue throughout. These meetings should include the owner, property manager, architect, engineers, general contractor, subs and any other stakeholders. By working together, team members will identify efficiencies and cost savings, such as ways to recover and reuse heat and water, which can impact first costs and operating costs down the line.

Do it right the first time. I think it’s incredibly important to maintain constant supervision of a construction project. It’s essential to ensure team members are not cutting corners or deviating from the agreed-upon plan without getting approval from the entire team. I’ve heard of too many projects where a cheaper or untried material was substituted only to be torn out and replaced soon after. More cost, more materials and more waste are not green.

Think durability. Every manufacturer has a green product these days. To minimize confusion, there are many third-party product certifications available that label products for low emissions, recycled content and other attributes. However, durability often takes a backseat to these hyped green characteristics. If a metal roof system will last 40 years or more and another roof type will last 15 years, you’re minimizing cost, materials and waste by choosing metal.

Measure and tweak systems. Once a building is operating, it’s not OK to walk away and never think about it again. The performance of our buildings drastically changes once people occupy them and turn on task lighting, fiddle with the thermostat, run the microwave, etc. A team should be in place within the building to monitor its energy use and identify systems that are using more energy than necessary. For example, a California office building equipped its underground parking-garage fans with sensors that monitor carbon-monoxide levels. The fans only turn on when CO levels reach a certain point. The payback for the sensors was almost immediate because of the energy saved once the fans weren’t running 24-7. An efficient building that is performing according to its green design criteria looks great in every project-team member’s portfolio.

Like any construction project, there are many more systems and strategies that should be researched and discussed within a project team when going green. The team must think about designing and constructing intelligently for the geographic location, orienting the building on the site to take advantage of passive-solar strategies, minimizing water use, constructing a tight envelope to reduce heating and cooling loads, etc. However, none of these things has to be too complicated or costly. Start simply, stay engaged and any building can reap the rewards of going green.

By Christina Koch, LEED AP,
vice chair of the Metal Construction Association’s Sustainability Council,
consultant and writer. christinaakoch@comcast.net

Members of the Metal Construction Association (MCA) have now formed a Retrofit Task Force “aimed at promoting the value of retrofitting roofs and walls to building owners and managers, architects and contractors.”

Along with educational and marketing activities, the MCA Retrofit Task Force plans to explore new retrofit technologies; foster the growth of rainwater harvesting and solar technology in conjunction with retrofit metal roof systems; establish relationships with industry associations aimed at sustainable and energy efficient goals; and establish industry guidelines for the proper analysis of existing building roof and wall systems. Armed with independent research from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) showing the value of retrofit metal roofing, the Task Force is putting together information about government rebates and incentives available to building owners who retrofit their buildings. The Task Force also plans to work with government agencies to create additional incentives.

Meanwhile, Chuck Howard, PE , a consultant to The Metal Initiative (TMI), told us that retrofitting flat roofs with sloped metal roofs is a concept that’s tailor made for these declining economic times.

An expert on retrofit metal roofing, with more than 30 years of experience, Chuck confidently says that sloped metal roofs should last for decades. “If properly maintained, the exterior surface should last at least 30 to 50 years,” Chuck explains. “The exterior surface, whether painted or bare, can reflect up to approximately 80% of the solar energy that would normally penetrate the building. Adding un-faced fiberglass insulation in the newly created cavity can further increase the building’s ability to conserve energy used to control temperatures in interior spaces.”

Chuck also points out that the many benefits of retrofit metal roofing make it a sound investment for building owners. Likewise, I’ve found that this marketplace is a tremendous growth opportunity for architects and roofing contractors. Be sure to keep in mind that metal construction products offer great value and aesthetics for new buildings…and also for retrofit/renovation projects.

By Shawn Zuver,
editorial/content director,
www.DesignandBuildwithMetal.com

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Located at a historic trolley station site overlooking Chesapeake Bay, the new Mary Pretlow Anchor Branch Library in Virginia Beach, VA provides an iconic look for visitors and residents arriving at the bayfront.

The roof of the structure features a wide array of slopes, levels and intricate details that create an impressive visual display.  A cupola tops off the building to add to the coastal feel.

Approximately 30,000 sq. ft. of PAC-CLAD .040” aluminum Silver Metallic Snap-Clad panels provided the flexibility to meet demanding design objectives.  In addition to stunning aesthetics, the panels are rated to meet local windload requirements.  The Kynar 500 finish over the aluminum substrate also provides superior resistance to the elements in the coastal environment.

Design for the project was provided by The Design Collaborative, Virginia Beach.  “We had decided from the outset that the roof would be standing seam aluminum because of the salt air,” according to Ed Lazaron, principal and project architect.  “The building is on a spectacular site overlooking the shipping channel into the Bay.  The City Council wanted a ‘beach style’ look with a large, sheltering roof that would be compatible with the older houses along the beachfront.”

The design also called for an internal gutter system.  “It was a challenge because the overhangs were so large,” Lazaron said.  “We created a complex internal piping system that could be hidden in the roof structure.  The roof really provides the signature look that we wanted and the reaction from the community has been outstanding.”

Installation of the PAC-CLAD roof was done by Westar Roofing Corp., Virginia Beach.  The general contractor was Sun Bay Contracting Inc., Virginia Beach.

Long-recognized as an industry leader in metal standing seam roofing products, Petersen also offers exposed fastener panels, flush panels, composite wall panels and column covers.  All provide the well-known Petersen quality and are available in 37 standard colors on steel and 36 standard colors on aluminum.

For more information on the complete line of Petersen metal products, call 800-PAC-CLAD or visit www.pac-clad.com .