< PreviousB irdair, Inc., the world’s leading specialty contractor for custom tensile membrane structures for over 60 years, left a lasting impression at the University of Florida’s Architecture Building with a one-of-a-kind roofing system atop the atrium. The retrofitted roof features Birdair’s innovative TensoSky ® ETFE film. The new roof covers the atrium’s open space and allows students, staff, and visitors to use the atrium regardless of weather conditions. The lightweight, flexible nature of ETFE membrane – paired with its signature aesthetic and design benefits – made it the ideal film to use for the project. TensoSky ETFE film is considered the material of choice for traditional skylight systems and can be applied in single-, double- or triple-layered applications. The film offers a variety of benefits, including exceptional light transmission, solar control, elasticity, longevity, acoustics, and energy efficiency. ETFE is also easily recyclable and can be remolded into new ETFE products such as tubing components, wires or castings. The 5,700-square-foot roof features 38 two-layer cushions utilizing clear transparent ETFE film, allowing students and visitors to see the sky from under the roof. The ETFE canopy system is an open-air structure, enabling air flow and ventilation around the perimeter of the structure. 10 /September-October 2022 Birdair Beautifies U of F School of Architecture Atrium The Next-Generation Retrofitted TensoSky ® ETFE Roof Provides Weather Protection for Students, Staff and Visitors Birdair’s scope of work included design-build services of the supporting structural steel framing system, transparent ETFE film cushions, air inflation materials, and clamping. The Birdair construction crew worked under a compressed schedule for installation of the structural steel’s helical, spiral non-tangent curve design. The crew, comprised of five union iron workers from Iron Workers Local 397 in Tampa, Florida, worked 10-hour days, seven days a week to install the structural steel frame over the university’s winter holiday break, to avoid lifting over the building while students and staff were present. The roof also needed to meet Florida Building Code (FBC) requirements. “It was challenging to install the structural steel with a spiraling ridge and multi-angular purlins while receiving deliveries of structural steel during the winter holiday break,” said James Thomas, Director of Construction, Birdair. “We’re proud of the fact that the installation challenge was met, with our crew installing all the structural steel before students and staff returned from the break.” After installing the structural steel, the team’s next challenge was to install the complete ETFE skylight on the newly erected structural steel frame. The ETFE system is comprised of a self-contained drainage system for condensation and weather protection, all custom fabricated TensoSky ETFE film is considered the material of choice for traditional skylight systems. /September-October 2022 11 to match the spiral steel frame. “A lot of coordination had to occur between the design of the ETFE roof system with the existing building,” Thomas commented. “The ETFE cushions, as well as the supporting steel standoffs that hold the ETFE clamping extrusions, were all different. Our pin-based sliding connections minimized bending moments being transposed into the building.” “We’re excited about the result – a brand-new skylight system ready to welcome all who visit the beautiful atrium at the University of Florida School of Architecture.” Award-winning architectural firms KMF Architects and Brooks+Scarpa teamed up to work on the retrofit project. The project team also included TLC Engineering Solutions, a multifaceted high-performance engineering firm with global experience, and Stellar Construction, a fully integrated design-build company specializing in architecture, construction, engineering and more. Originally constructed in 1980, the School of Architecture Building serves as the administrative home for the University of Florida. Facilities in the Architecture Building include dedicated studios, classrooms, computer laboratories, fabrication spaces, administrative offices and a gallery space for the presentation of work and exhibits. The open-air atrium and adjacent lawn are considered the social and cultural heart of the school. About Birdair: Birdair, Inc., is the leading specialty design-build contractor of custom tensile structures around the world. In addition to pre-construction services such as design assistance, budgeting, construction methodologies and project scheduling, Birdair provides design-build solutions in all aspects of project design, fabrication, installation and maintenance. The company offers a selection of architectural fabric membranes, including PTFE fiberglass, ETFE film, PVC and Tensotherm™, an insulated tensioned membrane system. For more information on Birdair’s innovative roofing systems, canopies and skylights, visit Birdair.com. The ETFE canopy system is an open-air structure, enabling air flow and ventilation around the perimeter of the structure. T he development, just outside of Chicago, showcases the ability to combine green building with an upscale living environment, including amenities such as a fitness center, swimming pool, theater, dog park, dog grooming station, and We Work spaces on each floor. The project − being built by Burr Ridge-based Hawthorne Development Corporation − will use 40−60% less energy than conventional buildings through an array of other sustainability features: • It’s being built to PHIUS (Passive House Institute US) Standards for energy efficiency, the most difficult to achieve in new construction. • It will meet the requirements for Net Zero Energy Use and Net Zero Carbon certifications, with all energy to be produced on site and Lithium-ion batteries to replace gas. • It will also reduce energy use through features such as solar energy, water-saving plumbing fixtures, triple pane windows, LEDs throughout, variable refrigerant flow that is 30% more efficient than conventional HVAC systems, heat recovery ventilation that reduces heating and cooling demands, and more. Hawthorne has been at the forefront of sustainable development since the early 1980s, adopting many of the Eco Terra — The Largest Project in the Country to Earn Key Passive House and Net Zero Certifications Eco Terra, a seven-story, 348-unit luxury mixed-use apartment complex, is now under construction National Green Building Standards long before they were initiated by the U.S. government in 2008. They believe that all development projects become better living environments after implementing green practices. Hawthorne works on all types of developments, ranging from low-income housing to high-end apartment complexes, to converting iconic historic landmarks, to building healthy homes, to industrial or commercial buildings. For more information, see hawthorneworld.com. Eco Terra is leading the way towards innovative green development.12 /September-October 2022 Photos Courtesy: Fresh Quest Photo Architect United Architects, Ltd. Camp Bow Wow, Dog Care Facility Joliet, Illinois O n a small site in Joliet, Illinois, this 7,566-square-foot building was constructed for a new Camp Bow Wow location. United Architects, Ltd. along with Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associ- ates, Inc. (Civil), BP Miller Consultants, Ltd. (Civil), and O’Higgins & Arnold Sus- tainability L.L.C. (Mechanical) designed the dog daycare, grooming, and board- ing camp according to Camp Bow Wow guidelines. Camp Bow Wow is North America’s largest pet care franchise, with 200 locations in 40 states and Canada. Since 2000, the Camp concept has provided the highest levels of fun, safety and service for its Campers, and peace of mind for their parents. R. Berti Building Solutions was the general contractor for the project and completed the building within 7 months. The wood frame building features 2 × 6 wood stud exterior walls supporting roof Camp Bow Wow is North America’s largest pet care franchise, with 200 locations in 40 states and Canada. The concrete foundation is topped with a concrete slab on grade.os Courtesy: Fresh Quest Photo /September-October 2022 13 trusses, on a concrete foundation with a concrete slab on grade. This allows the rear portion to be opened for indoor play areas and cabins for the dogs. The exterior veneer is split-face concrete block on the sides and the rear, and decorative stone with brick and siding on the front. The front entrance is covered with a metal roof on thick cedar trusses with cedar posts and stone bases. The main roof is asphalt shingles. An aluminum entrance door and aluminum windows are at the front. Insulation in the walls is R-21, and in the attic it is R-30 fiberglass insulation. The front lobby has a check-in and a check-out area for the dogs. The halls to the cabins have metal wainscotting, and in the rear the walls are covered with FRP panels. There are three private “suites” which are larger than the cabins; a room for grooming; and a storage area for the pets’ supplies. The large Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) provides fresh air throughout the rear area. The building is protected with a fire alarm and a fire sprinkler system. Camp Bow Wow Joliet is locally owned by John Quinn, who opened his Camp after 30 years in the IT and cyber security industry to help others in the Joliet area solve a problem he often faced: stress over traveling and leaving his pets. John’s Camp will feature three large indoor and outdoor play areas, 4 luxury suites and 70 spacious cabins for overnight stays. The Camp also features live web cams so pet parents can check in on their dogs. The Camp will fill a gap in the pet care space in Joliet, offering an environment unique only to Camp Bow Wow. Dogs romp together in an open-play environment, and pricing is all-inclusive. In addition to day care and overnight boarding, the company also offers personalized enrichment opportunities, grooming services, and a rewards-based dog training program. Dogs romp together in an open-play environment, and pricing is all-inclusive. The facility has plenty of storage space for the pets’ supplies.The dogs can interact even when they're in their cabins. The front lobby is brightly lit, welcoming and appealing. The exterior veneer is split-face concrete block on the sides and the rear, and decorative stone with brick and siding on the front. DIVISION COST % OF SQ.FT. SPECIFICATIONS COST COST GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 140,498 10.56 16.32 — CONCRETE 125,153 9.41 14.54 Concrete, polished floors. MASONRY 85,100 6.40 9.89 Unit. WOOD, PLASTICS & COMPOSITES 328,335 24.68 38.14 Rough carpentry, finish carpentry, architectural woodwork. THERMAL & MOISTURE PROTECTION 51,712 3.89 6.01 Roofing & siding panels, asphalt shingles, metal roofing, soffit, fascia, joint protection. OPENINGS 60,425 4.54 7.02 Doors, frames, hardware, entrances, storefronts, windows, glazing. FINISHES 60,704 4.56 7.05 Plaster & gypsum board, ceilings, flooring, painting & coating. SPECIALITIES 1,500 0.11 0.17 Fire extinguishers & cabinets. FURNISHINGS 12,990 0.98 1.51 Cabinets, countertops. FIRE SUPPRESSION 54,025 4.06 6.28 Water-based fire suppression. PLUMBING 95,450 7.17 11.09 Piping & pumps, fixtures. HVAC 188,050 14.13 21.83 HVAC, piping & pumps, air distribution. ELECTRICAL 126,689 9.51 14.71 Electrical & fire alarm. TOTAL BUILDING COSTS 1,330,631 100% $154.56 EARTHWORK 135,504 Excavating & site utilities. EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS 18,146 Vinyl fencing. UTILITIES 3,005 Water meter, gas. TOTAL PROJECT COST 1,487,286 UPDATED ESTIMATE TO OCTOBER 2022: $178.34 PER SQUARE FOOT *Square foot cost based on 8,609 square feet (Exterior play area divided in half per AIA Document D101 ™) Regional Cost Trends This project, updated to October 2022 in the selected cities of the United States. Architect United Architects, Ltd. 1002 Plainfield Road, Joliet, IL 60435 www.unitedarchitects.biz Camp Bow Wow, Dog Care Facility COMMERCIAL CM220912 Project General Description Location: Joliet, Illinois Date Bid: Aug 2021 Construction Period: Sep 2021 to Jul 2022 Site .82 acre. Total Square Feet: 9,224* Building Sizes: Exterior play area, 1,230; first floor, 7,566; attic, 428; total 9,224* square feet. Building Height: First floor, 12'; attic, 7'10"; floor to floor, 13'; total, 22'4". Number of Buildings: One. Basic Construction Type: New/Wood Frame. Foundation: Cast-in-place, slab-on-grade. Exterior Walls: CMU, brick. Roof: Asphalt shingle, metal. Floors: Concrete, wood. Interior Walls: Wood stud drywall. Project Team Structural Engineer BP Miller Consultants, Ltd. P.O. Box 757, Minooka, IL 60447 Mechanical & Electrical Engineer O’Higgins & Arnold Sustainability, LLC 769 Heartland Drive, Unit A, Sugar Grove, IL 60554 General Contractor & Cost Estimator R. Berti Building Solutions 1609 Rock Creek Boulevard, Joliet, IL 60431 Civil Engineer Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates 129 Capista Drive, Shorewood, IL 60404 EASTERN U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Atlanta, GA $116.38 $1,001,877 Pittsburgh, PA $164.74 $1,418,241 New York, NY $226.71 $1,951,708 WESTERN U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Los Angeles, CA $191.94 $1,652,446 Las Vegas, NV $184.39 $1,587,389 Seattle, WA $169.27 $1,457,275 CENTRAL U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Dallas, TX $111.84 $962,843 Kansas City, KS $160.21 $1,379,207 Chicago, IL $205.55 $1,769,548 For more information on this project and similar projects visit www.dcd.com The walls in the rear are covered with FRP panels. 14 /September-October 2022H ousing is considered affordable if it costs less than 30 percent of a household’s total income. That situation is currently a dream for over 20 million renter households in the U.S. Suitable affordable housing leads to both better mental and better physical health by reducing disease and stress. It also gives families with tight budgets more money to spend on food and healthcare. Last year, Wolf Industries, Inc., wolfind.com, a modular home builder located in Battle Ground, Washington, announced they had finalized an agreement with the Vancouver Housing Authority to produce modular structures for transitional housing, as part of a larger “tiny home village” project. Wolf, a leader in turn-key solutions, has now completed the 21-unit detached multi-family affordable housing project for Community Roots Collaborative, a non-profit developer of permanent, affordable, tiny home communities for residents in Clark County, Washington. Wolf Industries currently offers six tiny home models, with two floor plan options. The fact that the cost per square foot of these tiny modular homes is substantially less than that of stick- built homes makes them the perfect choice for their customers. Wolf facilitates permitting, production, delivery, and setup — making the home-buying experience as easy on the customer as possible. Their focus is providing a safe and secure home for those in need, while also offering services for underlying issues that created the original crisis. The completion time for a unit is broken down into three projects – Permits, House Construction, and Field Delivery & Setup. Respectively, the timelines are: 2 weeks to 9 months, 3−4 weeks, and 3−5 weeks. The site work involves excavation, foundation, delivery, placement, utility connections, grading, erosion control, tree and brush trimming, tree removal (up to 6" in diameter), and a final clean up. The deciding factor for C-Roots in choosing Wolf Industries was Wolf’s ability to accurately estimate and deliver on such a large project scope. From pre-project planning to construction management services, it was all handled in-house with no subcontractors — truly a non-typical approach in the construction world. These differences were what allowed the project to pivot quickly when presented with supply chain issues and rising costs. Through the design of a new duplex model, Wolf was able to maximize the density and still deliver a comfortable site layout. When talking with C-Roots representative Chris Thobaben about this project, he said he was looking for a standard product that could be refined over time. “I wanted to scale this … we needed a partner with something that could be created and replicated with confidence for the next funding source … and the assurance that it would be done just as well or better. We went to four different locations when doing our due diligence, and found that Wolf had, hands-down, the best — not just the quality at the source, but the quality control process.” Chris explained, “With everything C-Roots was looking for — from price, lead times, availability, design, and expectations of the people that were paying for the houses (the expectation being something that could last for 30−50 years) — the cross- over of all those came down to Wolf as the best design option.” Wolf Industries shifted its production to a new facility at over twice the size of their last factory (nearly 21,000 square feet) to address the increase in demand for affordable housing in the Pacific Northwest. Derek Huegel, Owner & President of Wolf Industries Inc., explained, “Our new shop capacity has certainly added to the delivery and flow of this project, including added staffing to Wolf’s internal permit expediting department, and strengthening relationships at both the local and state levels. From our pre- production review meeting to the delivery of the final product, our systems and processes are made to handle production at the rate of one home every three days.” (Wolf Industries aims to produce a home a day by 2024.) Derek says the expansion couldn’t have come at a better time. “With about a 300% increase in demand, the new shop is everything we needed to help meet a massively growing need for affordable housing.” Much of the company’s success, Derek added, is attributed to offering a turn-key product. “We not only construct the home, we handle the site work, permitting, set up, and delivery as well.” Derek added that this small building movement is still in its infancy, but gaining in acceptance, especially with inflation and material costs increasing by the day. Through the Factory-Assembled Structures Program in Washington State, Wolf Industries is able to produce homes built to International Residential Code (IRC) standards — the same specifications and requirements found in much larger and more expensive homes built on-site. The ADUs are constructed by Wolf from the inside out, allowing them to seal all penetrations in the sheetrock. This consistently gives ACH values in the 1-3 range. The use of mini splits increases the energy efficiency, the overall load on the grid is low, and the blown-in batt insulation system makes the houses very tight. Though they’ve seen major growth in demand for multi- unit projects, Wolf Industries comments that they continue to remain attentive to individuals who still need lesser services– such as guest homes, accessory dwelling units, and hardships (commonly used for bringing aging parents onto a shared property). “I really enjoy hearing about the ideas that people have for what they want to do with our tiny homes,” commented Sophia Stewart, the Sales and Marketing Coordinator. “I love to show people around and get them excited about any projects they have in mind, or even if they’re just curious about what our houses look like.” The project has been stabilized and all units are leased out to various individuals. The tenant feedback is nothing short of amazing on how close yet “apart” all the tenants feel inside this compact site. One renter said, “I love it. I love the house! It’s fantastic. It’s warm; when we had the snow, it was great! It’s the perfect size. It’s a lot better than what I had … I love the place!” Looking forward, C-Roots and Wolf Industries Inc. have been pursuing more sites in the greater Vancouver area. Adding value to the community and helping those in need get back on their feet is the goal. Wolf Industries is always willing to look at projects that people have in mind. 21-Unit Affordable Housing Community Completed in Southwest Washington Factory-built housing helps local non-profit complete low-income housing community during tumultuous times A drone shot of Wolf Industries' tiny home village. /September-October 2022 15Photos Courtesy of Micki Wechsler Architect Bonsall Shafferman Architects & Space Planners Brown Daub Volvo of Lehigh Valley Renovation Lower Nazareth Township, Pennsylvania A utomobile companies have been stressing standard building designs with key features for their new and renovated dealerships in order to reinforce product branding and consumer identity. Although finishes and fixtures are dictated by the manufacturers, the design of each automotive company building is usually unique to the company. Stripped of its former Suzuki “skin,” the existing two-story automobile dealership of Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, was reinvented as a Volvo facility under the VRE program (Volvo Retail Experience). Bonsall Shafferman Architects and Space Planners assisted the owner, Brown Daub, in adapting the VRE program to their building. The work entailed a thorough transformation of both the building interior and exterior. The VRE interior is built on contrast: hard against soft, warm against cool, and rest and recovery against excitement and product focus. The character of the prod- uct zone (called “The Street”) is more ur- ban, harder, and brighter than the informal, relaxed and congenial lounge area (called “The Living Room”). The Living Room is placed at the heart of the showroom. It provides the ultimate opportunity for ensuring that customers are in the right frame of mind – ready to discuss their vehicle choice or able to make good use of their valuable time while waiting for their car to be serviced. In The Living Room, a suspended slat wood ceiling reflects the warmth of the wood flooring and contrasts directly with the 30" by 30" ceramic tile used in The Street. In contrast, carpeted consultation areas and offices utilize broadloom in warm gray hues. Outside, the previous skin was re- moved, re-sheathed and clad with Alpolic ® aluminum composite panels in both White and Silver Metallic. The existing aluminum and glass storefront was retained. Jerdon Construction Services, LLC of Allentown, Pennsylvania, coordinated and provided the construction supervision throughout the entire project. Ideal Image supplied the signage and furnishings. Building Envelope: Alpolic ® Flooring: Fiandre Tile, Bentley-Prince Street Carpet, ProSource Interior: 9-WOOD Lighting: Cree, LSI, Finelite Product Information The interior is built on contrast: hard against soft, warm against cool. 16 /September-October 2022 A former Suzuki dealership completely reinvented for Volvo with key features to reinforce product branding.os Courtesy of Micki Wechsler For more information on this project and similar projects visit www.dcd.com DIVISION COST % OF SQ.FT. SPECIFICATIONS COST COST PROCUREMENT & CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS 12,000 1.58 1.53 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 41,797 5.49 5.33 — CONCRETE 8,200 1.08 1.05 Forming & accessories, cast-in-place. METALS 24,609 3.23 3.14 Structural metal framing, fabrications. WOOD, PLASTICS & COMPOSITES 9,872 1.30 1.26 Rough carpentry. THERMAL & MOISTURE PROTECTION 105,259 13.84 13.43 Metal wall panels (exterior front only), thermal protection, EIFS, weather barriers, roofing. OPENINGS 61,100 7.79 7.79 Doors & frames, specialty doors & frames, hardware, entrances, storefronts & curtain walls, glazing. FINISHES 218,284 28.69 27.84 Plaster & gypsum board, tiling, ceilings, flooring, wall finishes, painting & coating. SPECIALTIES 5,825 0.77 0.74 Interior. FURNISHINGS 9,173 1.21 1.17 Casework. FIRE SUPPRESSION 17,210 2.26 2.20 Water-based fire-suppression systems. PLUMBING 3,350 0.44 0.43 Piping & pumps. HVAC 33,350 4.38 4.25 Air distribution, central HVAC equipment. ELECTRICAL 210,700 27.70 26.87 Facility electrical power generating & storing equipment, lighting. TOTAL BUILDING COSTS 760,729 100.00 $97.03 EXISTING CONDITIONS 3,200 Site remediation. EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS 23,803 Bases, bollards & paving. TOTAL PROJECT COST 787,732 UPDATED ESTIMATE TO OCTOBER 2022: $149.91 PER SQUARE FOOT EASTERN U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Atlanta, GA $106.88 $837,934 Pittsburgh, PA $151.30 $1,186,166 New York, NY $208.21 $1,632,338 CENTRAL U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Dallas, TX $102.72 $805,287 Kansas City, KS $147.13 $1,153,519 Chicago, IL $188.77 $1,479,987 Regional Cost Trends This project, updated to October 2022 in the selected cities of the United States. Architect Bonsall Shafferman Architects & Space Planners 1525 Valley Center Parkway, #130 Bethlehem, PA 18017 Project Team Brown Daub Volvo of Lehigh Valley Renovation Project General Description Location: Lower Nazareth Township, Pennsylvania Date Bid: Apr 2016 Construction Period: May 2016 to Nov 2016 Total Square Feet: 7,840 Site: 2.198 acres. Number of Buildings: One. Building Sizes: Renovation of Showroom Areas 2, 3, 7, 8; total 7,840 square feet (please refer to floor plan below). Building Height: First floor renovation, 17'2". Basic Construction Type: Renovation/II B. Foundation: Cast-in-place, slab-on-grade. Exterior Walls: CMU, curtain wall, metal studs. Roof: Membrane. Floors: Concrete. Interior Walls: Metal stud drywall, glass office walls. COMMERCIAL CM220916 /September-October 2022 17 Structural Engineer Lockridge Engineering 160 Main Street, Emmaus, PA 18049 Mechanical & Electrical Engineer Lehigh Valley Engineering 1 W. Broad Street, #500, Bethlehem, PA 18018 General Contractor & Cost Estimator Jerdon Construction Services LLC 5925 Tilghman Street, #20, Allentown, PA 18104 WESTERN U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Los Angeles, CA $176.28 $1,382,046 Las Vegas, NV $169.34 $1,327,635 Seattle, WA $155.46 $1,218,813 The “Street” product zone in contrast to the relaxed “Living Room.” 1. New Car Delivery 2. Show Room 3. Living Room 4. Tech Library & Training 5. Parts 6. Retail Parts 7. Sales Manager 8. Service Drive 9. Service 10. SalesH urricanes, forest fires, and extended droughts are just a few examples of extreme weather-related events that are growing in frequency here in the U.S. and around the world. Among the most concerning are rising temperatures. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average surface temperature across the lower 48 states has risen at a mean rate of 0.16°F per decade, and eight of the warmest years on record have occurred since 1998. The harmful and costly effects of a changing climate are not limited to humans, but also to infrastructure like roads and bridges, as well as residential and commercial buildings. It is often said that necessity is the mother of invention, and that certainly rings true in the building industry. Innovations in architectural metal coatings and mindful design practices are rising to meet the toughest challenges of our time. Today, architects, builders, and designers need to take both proactive and reactive measures that meet the building needs of today while offsetting the future impact of climate change. Fortunately, they have more tools at their disposal than ever before, enabling them to specify solutions that not only elevate their projects’ beauty and durability, but also make meaningful contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts. The Influence of Buildings on Climate Change As calls for action on climate change grow louder, attention is turning to the building and construction industry. Every building, big or small, emits carbon into the atmosphere from sources like heating and cooling, lighting, and raw materials. The Global Impact is Profound Research indicates that buildings produce nearly 50% of global greenhouse gas emissions in the world and consume anywhere from 25% to 40% of energy usage — with demand growing exponentially. Considering the data, it is abundantly clear that architects, designers, and makers of building industry products have an important role in preserving our future — and signs indicate that they are heeding the call. The Industry is Rising to the Challenge As a PPG architectural specification manager with nearly 30 years of experience in the business, I can attest that demand is growing for more sustainable, energy-friendly solutions aimed at reducing carbon footprints. According to recent AIA research, 60% of architects are considering sustainability at least half the time during product specification, and 79% want to specify more 18 /September-October 2022 The Impact of Climate Change on Corrosion By Gary Edgar, PPG Architectural Specifications Manager, Industrial Coatings Newer Coatings Offer Cooling in a Warming World New metal coatings on the Appaloosa Branch Library enable the library to stay cool, even in the hot Arizona sun, and consume less air-condi- tioning energy. New technology powder coatings were used on 55 Hudson Yards in New York City. The House at Cornell Tech features custom coatings that contain reflective pigments./September-October 2022 19 sustainable materials in the future than they do today. I can also bear witness to the significant investments in R&D by leading coatings manufacturers to accelerate the development of new solutions that not only make buildings more resilient under the most extreme conditions, but also help to reduce their impact on the environment. Heat in the City While temperatures are rising by varying degrees across the globe, never have the effects been more profound than in urban settings. On average, cities tend to be 1–7°F warmer than surrounding areas during the daytime, and up to 5° warmer at night — a phenomenon called the Urban Heat Island Effect. These hotter microclimates occur for a multitude of reasons: limited tree canopies for shade, more heat-absorbing surfaces like concrete, less evaporation from water sources and vegetation, plus higher density populations (and all the transportation and energy needs that come with them). These urban hot spots create a greater demand for air- conditioning, driving up energy consumption and energy costs as well as smog and ozone pollution, which compound the effects. Finding ways to lower the temperatures in cities is of primary importance for protecting both the health of the people who live in them and bending the global warming curve. Advancements in Cool Coatings One of the most important advancements in the industry is the development of cool coating technologies that incorporate infrared (IR)-reflective pigments. As one of the three sources of light in the electromagnetic light spectrum, infrared rays account for about 45% of the sun’s energy; ultraviolet (UV) and visible account for the other two. IR-reflective pigments are microscopically configured to absorb the sun’s rays in the UV and visible spectrums, while they simultaneously reflect a significant portion of that heat energy in the near infrared (NIR) spectrum (the wavelengths just outside the visible range). In high-performance coatings for the building industry, the source of these IR-reflective pigments is either organic minerals like titanium dioxide or, more commonly, engineered inorganic compounds. Compared to standard coatings, cool coatings have a higher degree of solar reflectance, and improved thermal emittance (how quickly the substrate “sheds” sunlight and heat). The difference is significant: a standard black pigment has a total solar reflectance (TSR) value of about 5%; but a black IR-reflective pigment reflects about 50% of infrared energy, lowering the TSR to the 25–30% range. These coatings, commonly used on roofing, wall panels, and other metal building components, lower building temperatures and reduce the energy demands needed for cooling. Cooling is essential, but the ability of these pigments PPG’s breakthrough powder coating offers FGIA/AAMA 2605-compli- ance, backed by more than 9 years of test data (Florida), and a trans- fer efficiency rate that is 20% higher than standard FEVE powders. 55 Hudson was one of the first skyscrapers in the U.S. to be finished with powder coatings. The advanced paint additives deflect sunlight to limit heat-island effect and diminish cooling loads, enabling them to provide added energy savings to commercial buildings.Next >