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FIeLD/WORK Solid Combination Weathering storms safely while meeting design criteria is the strength behind exterior cladding that combines protection and versatility. Rapidly changing weather patterns no longer abide traditional norms, and as a result, the number of weather-related disasters is growing incrementally each year. This year an unusually warm winter brought little snowfall, while numerous deadly tornadoes savaged the Mid- west region. Just last August, Hurricane Irene made landfall and ran up the East Coast, its effects stretching from Florida to New York, serving as a painful reminder that severe storms can hit any coastal area. With so many anomalies, no one can accurately forecast what's coming in the immediate future, so the National Weather Service is encouraging property owners in all coastal regions to be prepared. In response, architects working in the hurricane corridor are taking steps to protect building envelopes with materials that meet or exceed the criteria set by the Miami-Dade Building Code. Many are finding an ideal solution by pairing Alcoa's Reynobond® ACM with Reynobond with KEVLAR® to design structures that can withstand severe weather conditions. Stan- dard Reynobond ACM meets the Miami-Dade standards for "small" wind-borne debris, while Reynobond with KEVLAR is certified under the Miami-Dade Building Code to withstand the impact of a nine-pound, 2 x 4 timber traveling at 50 feet per second, and can be installed without the use of additional backer materials. A lightweight aluminum composite material, Reynobond with KEVLAR is engineered to provide protection for a building structure with a superior strength-to-weight ratio that's been en- hanced by the extraordinary high strength of DuPont™ KEVLAR, which is five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis. The pairing provides a smart alternative to traditional fascia materials such as brick and stucco, particularly in hurricane zones. Reynobond with KEVLAR provides the same durability and versatility as traditional Reynobond and is available in the same limitless range of colors. A Seamless Transition When the global design firm Gensler was commissioned to design the 220,000-square-foot International Motorsports Center in Daytona Beach, FL, it paid particular attention to the selection of exterior cladding materials because the structure is located within the U.S. hurricane corridor. Reynobond with KEVLAR and Reynobond ACM were specified to enclose the building envelope. By combining the two materials, the archi- tects were able to create the sleek, modern façade they desired, with no visible color difference between the two materials, while 18 STORM&SecURITy PROTecTION / 2012 FORECAST meeting the budget requirements as well as the region's stringent building codes. West Tampa Glass (WTG), Tampa, FL, fabricated and installed 40,000 square feet of Reynobond with KEVLAR, 4 mm, PE core in NASCAR® Silver with a Duranar® XL finish for the large missile areas on the façade over 30 feet high; 40,000 square feet of Reynobond ACM, 4 mm, FR core in NASCAR Sil- ver with a Duranar XL finish for the façade below 30 feet high; and 2,000 square feet of Reynobond ACM, 4 mm, PE core in NASCAR Pewter with a Duranar XL finish used as accents. All of the panels were installed in a rout-and-return, wet silicone- sealed system. The Reynobond ACM and Reynobond with KEVLAR mate- rials were ideal for fabricating the complex geometry of the architecture. The panels on the front of the building have a slight concave curve; the canopy not only mimics the lines of an aero- dynamic spoiler and follows the curves of the façade but it also angles up. The back of the building, which overlooks the race- track, has a convex curve similar to the outside edge of a racing tri-oval. These areas were very difficult to engineer due to the compound slope, segmentations and grain direction of the mate- rial. In addition to fitting the building, the panel joints also had to be aligned with the curtain wall butt joints at the panel perimeters. Protecting High-Performance Federal Assets When the U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) Public Service Federal Building Fund allocated funding to mod- ernize the George C. Young Federal Building and Courthouse in Orlando, FL, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvest- ment Act, it stipulated that the courthouse was to be converted into a high-performance green building. The DLR Group Inc., Orlando, FL, was commissioned to redefine the space, originally built in 1975 in the Late Modern style. The architecture of the newly retrofitted structure, which is currently under construction, pays due respect to the judicial environment while creating a completely new architectural identity for the building. The transformation of the six-story, 188,000-square-foot structure from a dense structure to a vibrant, modern work environment required extensive work. All interior walls, ceilings and HVAC systems were removed. Lead paint and asbestos were abated. On the exterior, the entire building envelope was gutted to its concrete structure. A new entry pavilion and a stair/elevator tower were added to reorient the building to the park outside and engage with the civic space. The new entry also allows the interior renovation to grow from a new, dignified procession through clearly defined and organized spaces.1 | by Sid Peterson |