The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) is set to release AAMA 103-14a, Procedural Guide for Certification of Window, Door and Skylight Assemblies, on Dec. 1, 2014. This document has been completely re-written and re-formatted to comply with new ANSI accreditation requirements. Additionally, a new feature of this document is the enlargement of the initial certification period from four to five years, plus the option to extend the certification of qualifying products for an additional five years, if additional quality checks are added to the licensee’s Quality Management System.

These additional requirements are outlined in section 17 of the document. Certification to the new five-year term will be implemented upon publication of this document on Dec. 1, 2014. All existing certifications that have not expired by this date will be eligible for the five-year extension on Dec. 1. New certifications for the air-water-structural program will be for five years upon implementation.

“The addition of the five-year initial certification term to AAMA’s window and door certification program will allow our licensees to see a larger return on their testing dollars,” says Jason Seals, AAMA’s certification manager. “Additionally, those participating in the five-year extension program can see an even larger return on their investment, while also gaining additional benefits from the enhanced quality control program and ten year total certification term.”

AAMA was formerly accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 65, published in 1996. Now, AAMA will be accredited to the new ISO/IEC 17065, titled Conformity Assessment – Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, which was published in 2012.

AAMA 103-14A, along with other AAMA documents, will be available from AAMA’s Publication Store.

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The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has released AAMA 510-14, Voluntary Guide Specification for Blast Hazard Mitigation for Vertical Fenestration Systems, which provides a guide to manufacturers, architects, specifiers, contractors and building owners for specifying these types of systems and services to meet the requirements of blast hazard mitigation.

Blast mitigation products are intended for the reduction of injuries and fatalities of occupants under defined blast criteria. The method of installing these products is as important as the product itself, and must be evaluated during testing and/or structural analysis.

“Unlike most AAMA documents, this one is primarily designed to be a roadmap for architects to use as a reference guide and format for specifying hazard mitigation products,” says Dennis Kelly (Graham Architectural Products), chair of the Security Hazard Mitigation for Fenestration Products Committee.

This document was last updated in 2006. It was developed in cooperation with several government and industry groups over the course of a few years, to incorporate the best practices and accepted test standards, Kelly adds.

“A very important use of this significant document is that, if the procedure in the document is followed and the laboratory is accredited as noted in the document, the specifier can be confident that the product he or she is specifying when tested in accordance with the stipulated procedures can be matched to other products and will meet the requirements as desired,” says Kelly.

AAMA 510-14, along with other AAMA documents, may be purchased from AAMA’s Publication Store.

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When the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) decided to renovate its South Building, it sought replacement ceiling panels that offered both a modern look and modern performance, and would support its pursuit of LEED® certification, a rigorous  and internationally recognized certification from Canadian Green Building Council.  With ROCKFON, it found a solution that would uplift its architectural vision and uphold its design requirements.

Located at 222 Bremner Boulevard in downtown Toronto, the 1.2 million-square-foot MTCC South Building was designed by B+H Architects and opened in 1997. After 16 years, the space was in need of an update and the ceiling panels had begun to show their age. Addressing the convention centre’s essential performance and sustainability goals, ROCKFON worked closely with key facility staff of MTCC.

Joshua Jaikaran, MTCC’s facilities technical coordinator, served as project lead and managed the South Building’s renovation from the start to completion, including the product selection. Jaikaran’s colleagues, Vlaad Zahradnik and Scot Muncaster, provided project support while sustainability officer, Vivian Fleet, managed the LEED review process.

“We have had a sustainable procurement policy in place since 2008, which guides us in all purchasing practices,” says Jaikaran. “Choosing products that have recycled content and low/no-VOCs is important to the convention centre.” Rockfon Koral ceiling panels have earned UL® Environment’s GREENGUARD Gold Certification and contain up to 34% recycled content. ROCKFON ceiling panels are made of water-resistant stone wool, an inorganic material that does not promote growth of mold or bacteria.

Excellent sound absorption was another of the MTCC’s performance criteria. Rockfon Koral carries UL Classification for three acoustical categories. For MTCC, high sound absorption was most important, which is measured as a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) of 0.85. “Since we are Canada’s largest convention centre, many of our events can be quite large,” says Jaikaran. “We need to contain noise and provide acoustic privacy, rather than having sound penetrate the plenum and carry to adjacent spaces.”

ROCKFON’s district manager for Ontario and western Canada, Scott Debenham, adds, “Rockfon Koral’s high NRC mitigates what’s known as the ‘cocktail affect.’ When a large group of people gathers in an open space, they escalate the volume of their voices, competing to hear one another. This makes increasingly difficult to hear the individual conversations taking place. Our ceiling panels’ high sound absorption makes it easier to hear one another without raising your voice, as well as enhances speech intelligibility to hear a speaker addressing the large group.”

As part of creating comfortable, healthy spaces that respect the environment, minimizing repair and maximizing longevity are key considerations in any sustainably designed project. With renovation projects, there is a direct opportunity for comparison and improvement. Jaikaran explains that MTCC’s “old tiles were brittle, dirty, broken on some edges” and showed signs of water damage and stains.

Rockfon Koral reflects 86 percent of light from the panel’s surface to the building’s interior, contributing to LEED criteria for energy efficiency. Jaikaran elaborates, “Having a white ceiling tile with a smooth surface and high light reflectance brightens up the space, which could potentially mean energy savings, light reduction and a cooler space.”

Prior to replacing the old ceiling panels, MTCC’s renovation project team gathered several samples to conduct their own practical experiments regarding cleaning and durability. ROCKFON’s products successfully passed MTCC’s tests. The stone wool panels also can withstand temperatures up to 2150 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not contribute to the development and spread of fire, giving occupants the extra minutes they may need to escape a fire.

Even when applied in infrequently heated and unheated rooms, or at high humidity levels, these panels retain their intended performance. No acclimatization is needed, which means ROCKFON ceiling panels can be installed during the very early stage of the build (when windows are not fully sealed) without any risk of deflection of the panels.  Assisting with a smooth installation, Jaikaran says, “The ceiling tiles are easy to cut. The workers find them easy to work with.”

“It’s gone well,” agrees Ralph Scali, Showtech Power & Lighting’s manager. Showtech installed more than 40,600 square feet of Rockfon Koral products in the prefunction areas of the South Building. As MTCC’s in-house partner, Showtech scheduled the facility improvements during a three-month period with activity occurring between the convention center’s events to avoid disrupting the clients and visitors. Completed in January 2014, Scali says, “It makes a huge difference once the new tiles are in. It certainly brightens it up.”

Pleased with MTCC South Building renovation’s ceiling installation and its resulting aesthetic, performance and sustainability qualities, Jaikaran proudly describes the convention centre as offering: “Top-of-class service in a first-class venue in a world-class city. And yes, it’s the only facility that has hosted both a G20 and a G7 Summit,” as well as Toronto Construction Association’s Construct Canada, Canada Green Building Council’s national conference and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild.

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* Owner: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, http://www.mtccc.com
* Installer: Showtech Power & Lighting, http://www.showtech.ca
* Distributor: Commercial Drywall Supply Inc., http://www.commercialdrywall.com
* Product: Rockfon® Koral™, http://www.rockfon.com

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Knutson Construction announces two new hires and two promotions:
* Vital Brouillard hired as vice president of preconstruction
* Tom Leimer promoted to division manager
* Chris Terry promoted to vice president of business development
* Christine Wiegert hired as director of business development

As vice president of preconstruction, Vital Brouillard, brings more than 30 years of industry experience with a focus on estimating and preconstruction. Most recently, he served as JE Dunn’s director of reconstruction. He is a graduate of North Dakota State School of Science. Brouillard will work directly with customers and design teams to develop and confirm budgets and cost estimates for Knutson’s projects. He will be involved in design reviews, value engineering, system cost analyses, long-term maintenance studies, phasing and bid package review. Working from Knutson’s Minneapolis office, he will support all of the company’s locations.

“Vital’s reputation, vast experience in preconstruction estimating utilizing state of the art estimating technology will have an immediate impact on ensuring budget certainty for our clients,” noted Steve Curry, president and CEO.

Promoted from senior project manager to division manager, Tom Leimer will be responsible for managing Knutson’s operations in Rochester, Minnesota, including project and employee oversight. Dave Bastyr, executive vice president said, “Tom has been with Knutson for over seven years and brings a positive attitude, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal skills to his new role.”

As vice president of business development, Chris Terry will be responsible for leading business development for all offices. Previously serving as director of business development for Knutson’s locations in Wisconsin and Rochester, Minnesota, Terry will continue to live in Rochester and build upon the company’s growth by working closely with Leimer and the Rochester team. Terry has worked at Knutson for three years.

“Chris has played an integral role in helping our team build strong relationships and acquire new business throughout the Midwest,” praised Dave Bastyr, executive vice president, “As the leader of business development for all offices, he will develop and implement a strategic sales and marketing plan, and work closely with each office to ensure success in Knutson’s business development pursuits.”

As director of business development, Christine Wiegert, will strengthen relationships in the marketplace and work with clients to help them achieve their goals. She is a sales and marketing professional with 21 years of experience and 15 years in the Twin Cities market. Most recently, she worked at TKDA as vice president of marketing and business development. She earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and currently is completing her Master of Arts in organizational leadership. Curry stated, “Christine brings strong communication skills and a unique perspective to Knutson’s growing sales team.”

“As the Knutson team continues to grow we will continue to focus on collaboration, teamwork, trust, and building lasting relationships,” predicted Curry. “We are excited and optimistic about the changes and additions to our team and will remain focused on delivering an outstanding construction experience to our clients.”

Knutson Construction provides customers with pre-construction, design/build, general contracting and construction management services. Knutson has been providing expert construction services to healthcare, corporate, manufacturing, education, industrial, civic and retail customers since 1911. In addition to Minneapolis, Knutson has offices in Rochester, Minnesota; Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Altoona, Wisconsin.

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Appleton Coated announces the final four of 12 limited-edition type specimen sheets letterpress printed by Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum. Numbers 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the series, the specimens showcase classic typefaces on Utopia® coated papers and Curious Collection® papers. Each specimen sheet was printed in an edition of 500 copies, signed and numbered by the printer.

Specimen Sheet No. 9 is printed on Curious Collection’s 100-pound cover SKIN in Grey featuring Bernhard Gothic Medium, first shown in Hamilton Manufacturing Co.’s 1930 specimen book. Designed and printed by Jim Moran, Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum’s director, who said, “One of the first contemporary American san serifs, this low-waisted font was first introduced in 1929 in the ATF catalog. Its strong, bold details make Lucien Bernhard’s design a fine fit for Appleton Coated stock.”

Specimen Sheet No. 10 highlights Utopia U2:XG Dull 120-pound cover and features Gothic XXX Condensed. This specimen was designed and printed by Hamilton’s assistant director, Stephanie Carpenter. She noted that it is “a great font for newspaper headlines or used anywhere else that a lot of information needs to be placed in a small space. It was produced in many sizes and the uniform stroke thickness makes it very legible in almost any size. The character and thusly, the history, of the large, 40 line type shows really well on coated paper.”

Specimen Sheet No. 11 features Curious Collection’s 100-pound cover Curious Matter in Ibizenca Sand as printed with Aldine typeface, first designed for wood type by William Page in 1870. “It was a workhorse font for printers in the late 1800s and early 1900s because of its broad surface area and relatively small counters,” explained Hamilton’s artistic director, Bill Moran. “Not only is Curious Matter an innovative sheet because of its use of potato waste, it also is a perfect choice for letterpress because of its toothy finish and its ability to take the impression of wood type.”

Specimen Sheet No. 12 spotlights Utopia Two Dull 120-pound cover featuring Beaufonte. “This beauty made quite a splash as a very flowing ad style when it came out. The finely calendered finish on the coated sheet yields fine results with letterpress printing,” stated Carpenter, who designed and printed the poster.

In 2012, Appleton Coated became an official sponsor of the museum’s type specimen sheet archiving program and documentation of its type  collection. Incorporated 125 years ago in 1889, Appleton Coated has seen many Hamilton fonts printed on its papers. “We began the series to celebrate Hamilton’s vast collection of classic typefaces, letterpress printing and the enduring power of printed communication as demonstrated on Utopia coated and Curious Collection papers,” said Ferkó X. Goldinger, Appleton Coated’s marketing manager.

Goldinger continued, “In these three years, the Museum’s visibility has risen dramatically. It successfully transitioned to a new, larger space and a one-of-a-kind destination. It has expanded its hands-on approach with new workshops, programs and an annual Wayzgoose type conference that attracts design and print professionals, historians, and creative people of all ages.”

Jim Moran also noted, “This series of specimen sheets not only demonstrates beautiful type, printing and paper; and a wonderful sampling of our history and collection; it also demonstrates what’s possible with a strong partner. Appleton Coated has been a committed supporter of the museum’s mission in Two Rivers and of our outreach efforts throughout North America. We feel fortunate to have this long-standing relationship and are thankful for the many opportunities that Appleton Coated has made possible throughout its sponsorship.”

Printer’s proofs of the specimen sheet series will be available for sale at the annual Wayzgoose type conference, held Nov. 7-9 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Registration is now open and is limited to 200 participants. Learn more at http://woodtype.org.

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The Metal Construction Association (MCA) 2014 Chairman’s Award honored The Valspar Corporation for its contribution to Chaffin Junior High School’s colorful renovation and addition in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Recognized in the category of “Educational – Primary and Secondary,” the project features metal wall panels and custom, aluminum accents finished in five colors using Valspar’s 70% PVDF Fluropon® products.

Matching the school’s colors – Hunter Green and Vegas Gold – Valspar’s coatings playfully distinguish the fresh façade, complementing and transforming the 45-year-old brick exterior. Opened in 1969, Chaffin Junior High School has continued to serve its growing community with little change to the original, brick box-shaped building. As enrollment doubled and teaching technology evolved, more space was required to serve the 872 students plus faculty, staff and community.

Fulfilling the Fort Smith Public Schools’ mission to provide “students a promising transition into the 21st century,” Architecture Plus, Inc. designed Chaffin Junior High School’s renovation and expansion. As part of this project, G.A.G. Builders, Inc. constructed 37,500 square feet of additions for administrative services and for music and fine arts. Completed in May 2013, total construction fees for the project are estimated at $9 million.

Modernization of the school also included blending a creative learning environment with the security and accessibility requirements of today’s k-12 facilities. Balancing visibility and vision, the exterior was updated with a secured entry tower and a bright and colorful metal façade.

Cladding the new addition and entry, the metal wall panel system was manufactured by Citadel Architectural Products, Inc., and installed by Architectural Glass and Metals. With respect to the school’s colors, the metal trim is finished in Valspar’s Kendall Green.

Further defining Chaffin Junior High School’s distinctive appearance and entrance, Equus Metals, Inc. created the aluminum tube “baguette” system to accentuate the main entrance and public face of the school. These colorful, custom, ornamental metal elements also were finished by the Texas Finishing Company using multiple colors from Valspar’s Fluropon palette: Gold Watch, Harvest Gold, Seawolf, Coronado Red and Dark Green.

The annual MCA awards selected the Chaffin Junior High School project as an example highlighting innovation and creativity, while showcasing how metal products help achieve exceptional building designs. Valspar and the other building team members were presented with the MCA Chairman’s Award during the METALCON Conference in Denver on Oct. 1.

Valspar’s contributions to Florida’s Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral’s color-changing, metal-clad exterior also were honored in the category of Institutional Projects. Valspar previously was recognized with an MCA 2013 Chairman’s Award as part of the Central Arizona College, Maricopa Campus project team.

The MCA awards are selected from among the entries submitted to Metal Architecture Magazine’s annual Design Awards Program. A judging panel comprised of experienced architects and industry professionals make the selections. Learn more about the MCA and its awards at MetalConstruction.org.

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Photos by Don Shreve, Shreve Imaging

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The Valspar Corporation was honored with the Metal Construction Association (MCA) 2014 Chairman’s Award in the Institutional project category for its contribution to Florida’s Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral’s color-changing, metal-clad exterior. The Port’s new, shimmering, iridescent welcome center showcases the first use of Valspar’s new Kameleon™ Color mica coating as spray-applied to Firestone Metal Products’ UNA-CLAD™ metal wall panels by Linetec, one the nation’s largest finishers of architectural aluminum.

The annual MCA awards recognize innovation and creativity, while showcasing how metal products help achieve exceptional building designs. Taking its cues from the shapes and hues of the port, GWWO Inc./Architects designed the $23 million, seven-story, sail-shaped structure.

GWWO selected Valspar’s Blue Pearl II color-changing paint to capture the themes of revitalization and change it sought to represent for the Port Canaveral area. Along with its unique appearance, the finish must withstand Florida’s hurricane wind speeds, unrelenting sun and salt spray. Kameleon Colors offer the same, advanced protection as Valspar’s 70% PVDF Fluropon® product family in rich, pearlescent pigments that shift in color when viewed from different angles.

Skanska USA served as the general contractor of the 23,000-square-foot project, which opened in November 2013. Kenpat USA was the subcontractor responsible for the exterior metal façades and wall system. In addition to the Kameleon Colors’ Blue Pearl II finish on southern seaside elevation, Linetec also applied Valspar’s Fluropon White finish to the northern elevation’s aluminum-framed curtainwall offering views of the bustling port.

Valspar and the other building team members were presented with the MCA Chairman’s Award during the METALCON Conference in Denver on Oct. 1. Valspar’s contributions to Chaffin Junior High School’s addition/renovation in Arkansas also were honored in the category of Education – Primary and Secondary Projects. Valspar previously was recognized with an MCA 2013 Chairman’s Award as part of the Central Arizona College, Maricopa Campus project team.

The MCA awards are selected from among the entries submitted to Metal Architecture Magazine‘s annual Design Awards Program. A judging panel comprised of experienced architects and industry professionals make the selections. Learn more about the MCA and its awards at MetalConstruction.org.

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Photos by Rip Noel, Noel Studios Inc.

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ROCKFON® expands its North American team with the promotion of Tom Smith to business development manager, overseeing the complete offering of ceiling systems; Kirby Williams’ promotion to product manager of acoustic stone wool ceiling tiles, and the hiring of Jill Reninger as manager of construction services.

Reninger will report to Steve Noeth, ROCKFON’s vice president of sales. Both Smith and Williams will report to Cory Nevins, ROCKFON’s director of marketing. All are under the supervision of James B. Moynihan, ROCKFON’s vice president and general manager for North America.

“During the last year, we’ve enjoyed tremendous interest in our ‘Complete Ceiling Solutions’ offering including our acoustical stone wool and specialty metal ceiling panels, as well as our Chicago Metallic™ suspension systems,” says Moynihan. “Anticipating our customers’ needs and our continued growth, we are pleased to promote our experienced associates to management roles and to add new employees who bring strong technical skills and innovative thinking to our collaborative culture.”

Tom Smith, Business Development Manager
With more than 30 years of experience in the commercial ceilings industry, Smith leads new product development and project management for all of ROCKFON’s product lines. He focuses on enhancing the company’s product assortment and supporting its strategic marketing efforts throughout North America.

Originally from Toronto, Canada, and now based in Chicago, Smith’s career began in product design and development, followed by positions in technical support and product management. He joined Chicago Metallic in 2002 as a product manager for metal ceilings. Throughout the next 12 years, he was promoted to management roles overseeing ceiling suspension products, strategic projects and marketing communications. Most recently, he served as ROCKFON’s technical services manager where he helped strengthen relationships with architects, installers and other key partners. Drawing from his well-rounded skills and experience, he continues to contribute to the company’s strategic growth and planning.

Kirby Williams, Acoustic Tile Product Manager
With over 20 years’ experience in construction products and 17 years working with stone wool products, Williams works closely with customers and colleagues to provide high-quality, competitive ceiling panel products that meet both aesthetic and performance requirements for their commercial interior projects. As ROCKFON’s acoustic tile product manager, Williams will manage ROCKFON’s extensive portfolio of stone wool acoustic ceiling solutions that range from suspended and concealed ceilings to islands and baffles, as well as new product development.

Based in Milton, Ontario, Williams most recently served as ROCKFON’s compliance manager for North America. He has worked for the North American operations of ROCKWOOL® International for 17 years in both the ROCKFON and ROXUL® divisions in product management and development, sales management, and technical management of stone wool products in residential, commercial, industrial and marine applications.

Jill Reninger, Construction Services Manager
As ROCKFON’s construction services manager for North America, Reninger is responsible for the company’s technical services and project management teams. Based in Chicago, she embraces a project management operating style coupled with a continuous improvement methodology. She will continue the team’s tradition of providing excellent technical service, while elevating their ability to exceed customer expectations with quality on-time execution.

Reninger brings a strong background in the industrial engineering and construction services industries and 16 years of experience in both domestic and international manufacturing and distribution. Most recently, she worked for Ace Hardware Corporation with previous roles held at Elston Window & Wall LLC, Castle Metals and Republic Windows & Doors, LLC. She earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering management from the University of Illinois – Chicago, completed the University of Michigan’s lean manufacturing program and the Project Management Institute’s coursework. She regularly attends workshops and seminars from The Lean Enterprise.

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Opened in Spring 2014, Hamilton Ink Spot quickly is earning a reputation as Saint Paul’s premier printmaking resource and exhibition center. Funding through the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as part of its Knight Arts Challenge, will help Ink Spot bring hand-printed original artwork to new audiences in Saint Paul and throughout the Twin Cities.

Knight Foundation’s $50,000 matching grant will support the expansion of Ink Spot’s artistic and educational activities. These include: daily classes, a drop-in studio for families and individuals, a print cooperative for mid-career artists, paid internships, a mentorship program for high school-age artists, a mobile printmaking program serving public school students, and exhibitions of local, regional and national printmaking artists.

Master printers Bill Moran and Monica Edwards Larson oversee Ink Spot’s initiatives and its 2,200-square-foot location on Wabasha Street. The space offers Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum’s merchandise for sale, as well as a co-op space for Twin Cities’ artists to create and exhibit their original posters, cards, clothing and other printed work.

“Although Hamilton Ink Spot is located in highly visible, street-level space in the central core of downtown’s Saint Paul, additional support is necessary to raise awareness of printmaking as an accessible art form,” said Moran. An internationally respected artist and designer, Moran has worked since 1986 in Saint Paul and since 2011 from the Wabasha Street location. He has been involved with the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum since 2001.

“The cities that are the most vibrant are those where every person considers themselves a creative being. Hamilton Ink Spot helps forward that idea by making printmaking more accessible in Saint Paul,” said Dennis Scholl, vice president of arts for Knight Foundation.

“Hamilton Ink Spot creates access for artists and others of all skill levels and backgrounds, enriches the public’s connection with direct arts experiences, and substantially contributes to the cultural vitality of this community,” praised Larson, owner of Sister Black Press, a letterpress, book arts and design studio.

Joe Spencer, the City of Saint Paul’s director of arts and culture, agrees with Larson. He enthusiastically elaborated, “Ink Spot is the perfect gathering place to both showcase the amazing talent of this national design mecca we call home. Ink Spot is a wonderful place to bring great artists and designers together along with their enthusiastic audiences.”

“Ink Spot’s launch and ongoing stability will be helped enormously with the infusion of Knight Arts Challenge funds, especially during this important first year of operation. This is a chance to share a treasure of American printing with Twin Cities’ design and letterpress lovers,” added Moran.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge funds ideas that engage and enrich St. Paul through the arts. Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The Foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit KnightFoundation.org.

Hamilton Ink Spot is the first venture to which Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum lends its name. Based in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Hamilton is the only museum dedicated to the preservation, study, production and printing of wood type. With 1.5 million pieces of wood type and more than 1,000 styles and sizes of patterns, Hamilton’s collection is one of the premier wood type collections in the world.

To learn more about Hamilton Ink Spot’s co-op memberships, workshops, internships, merchandise and exhibition gallery, please email bill@blincpublishing.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/hamiltoninkspot.

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Architect Jesse Lizer, AIA, and his wife, Shannon, live in the dream home that they imagined and built together in Dike, Iowa. Kolbe’s Ultra Series windows and doors contribute to the home’s remarkable energy-efficient performance. Not only does the Lizer home surpass the energy performance of its neighbors in Iowa, but it outshines most new homes across the country.

The Lizer home earned a 5+ Star rating from the ENERGY STAR® 3.0 certification program – exceeding the certification requirements by 42 percent. The 3,700-square-foot house was air tightness tested at 1.1 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals, whereas a typical home experiences 3.0 air changes per hour. The residence also received a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index Score of 32, indicating it is 50 percent more energy efficient than a standard new home. Assessed by a certified Home Energy Rater, the HERS score accounts for whole-house design, beyond the exterior walls.

The couple started documenting their dream home wish lists in August 2011. Shannon Lizer’s list began with an 8-foot-tall grand entry door. Jesse Lizer’s top item was a “super insulated, super efficient house… It is quite obvious going just a few steps more in the building process can make a HUGE difference on your utilities bills, energy consumption and comfort within the home. We were willing to pay more for the long-term performance than for the aesthetic finishes. Finishes can be easily added or changed later. Performance was the first, driving factor.”

By October 2011, Lizer, an architect with Struxture Architects, was conducting sun studies and energy modeling. Through his research, he determined that orienting the house and key window spaces to face slightly southeast maximized the home’s natural light. “The windows are sized to allow maximum heat gain during the winter and shade the glass completely during the summer to block heat gain. The master bedroom also has glass for managing gain in that space. The dining room windows allow that area to be flooded with light and the warmth to radiate into the rest of the open spaces. The clerestory windows allow light and sun rays to filter in from above and project further into the space, warming the air.”

Lizer’s plans specified “tuning the glazing and sizes for each opening to hit the energy efficiency needed for each elevation.” Assisting with his research, he used Autodesk® Revit software coupled with Kolbe’s 3-D building information model (BIM) tools. He adds, “Kolbe was one of the few companies I could find to work with me on the glass, size and configurations. I quickly found out that they could do anything I was after in regard to highly energy-efficient glass packages, including providing the desired glass option for the home’s custom front door.”

Kolbe’s regional manager, Tom Yehl, met with Lizer to discuss the breadth of available options to meet both the high performance and the contemporary, Craftsman-inspired design. Appreciative of Yehl’s efforts, Lizer notes, “The service from my rep was great, as well as from the local dealer.”

Yehl remembers, “Jesse loves windows. I showed him that we have products for all applications. His focus was on developing a very efficient home that was not quite passive solar, but sought similar results. We eventually arrived at ThermaPlus™ LoE2-270 insulating glass with our Ultra Series exterior door and EP triple glazed, crank-out windows.”

Lizer describes the Ultra Series units as “a wood, aluminum-clad window with the cladding as extruded aluminum and not roll-formed like other options. This gives a much more durable exterior.” Kolbe finished the patio door and all of the windows’ exterior aluminum in Coal Black, supported with a 30-year limited finish warranty. “The black frames on the outside have a nice, wide profile and flat, clean, straight lines. They look fantastic,” Lizer says proudly. “The clean, straight lines are continued inside with square profiles. Kolbe is one of the few companies that has these options.”

“Double seals, high-end stainless steel hardware, lots of colors, and about any glass package you want” also contributed to Lizer’s decision in choosing Kolbe. Ultra Series crank-out EP casements are designated as among the Most Efficient ENERGY STAR certified products in 2014. With triple pane glass, the Lizer home’s windows achieve U-Factors as low as 0.17 on the north side and 0.22 on the south side.

The dining room window at the front of the house is 8-by-7 feet and with the 1-3/8-inch triple pane glass, Lizer says, it “weighs close to 300 pounds.” He and his wife handled the installation themselves, carefully following instructions from Kolbe. “Despite the size, they installed very easily,” he adds.

Large windows also were important for natural lighting throughout the house, including the set of three 60-by-24-inch clerestory windows. “Visitors comment on the overall, comfortable feel of the interior space, especially the clerestory windows,” remarks Lizer.

He continues, “The front door, one of the coolest parts on the house for us, turned out to not disappoint in any way. It looks just as good as we hoped, and already got several comments from the guys helping me unload as well as the delivery man. Doors like this are not too common, so we are pretty excited to have found it. Cost wise, it was really no more than others we were looking at.”

On the inside, Lizer carefully selected wood detailing so as not to interrupt the clean, straight lines and contemporary design. “The windows and doors’ pine frames give a little bit of warmth without being too heavy,” he observes.

Other notable green design aspects on the Lizer home include:
* A one-step, energy-efficient vertical wall system that uses 39 percent more foam insulation than standard insulated concrete form (ICF) construction to achieve an R-30 insulation value, which is 25 percent better than standard ICF construction would yield. The wall system was placed on an insulated basement slab. Instead of absorbing cold from the ground below, the slab captures heat and maintains a temperature level that is close to the thermostat setting.
* An open floor plan and cathedral ceilings maximize the use of incoming light. In the great room, a natural, rough sawn cedar mantel draws the eye, and the LED fireplace contributes to the ambiance and also produces heat when needed.
* A continuous row of double T5 florescent fixtures above the crown on the kitchen cabinets sits on an angled ledge to project light out into the space. This indirect lighting setup fills the space, creates zero shadowing and is much more energy efficient than traditional “can” ceiling lights. More T5 fixtures are mounted under the kitchen cabinets. Pendant lighting fixtures hang over the island and sink. Every kitchen light source also has a separate switch to vary illumination levels and optimizing energy use.
* A 98 percent high-efficiency, modulating gas furnace accurately sized to handle the small heating loads for the house
* A tankless, gas-fired water heater and high-efficiency water conserving appliances
* A spray foam attic seal with R-60 blown in insulation and no can ceiling lights
* The window’ sills and apron were built with scrap bamboo flooring, respectful of the interior design and efficient use of renewable materials

During the day, Lizer says, “We rarely have our lights on. I love the windows and doors and am extremely satisfied with their energy performance. Kolbe not only came through with the customized windows and door I desired, I got everything within very reasonable lead times. All in all, the ratings for my new home have been very good. It is performing as modeled and estimated.”

He adds, “It’s a fraction of the cost to operate. In our Climate Zone, a typical winter day is 5 degrees outside, but inside our home, it stays 72 degrees without the furnace running. On average, our utility bills are $100 or less per month in winter compared with our neighbors’ bills of $300-400/month. …The energy-efficiency goals might have seemed fairly extreme, but we managed to put together a very efficient home.”

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Key building team members:
* Homeowners: Jesse and Shannon Lizer; Dike, Iowa; http://lizerhomestead.blogspot.com/
* Architect: Jesse Lizer, AIA, Struxture Architects; Waterloo, Iowa; http://www.struxture.com
* Window manufacturer: Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc.; Wausau, Wisconsin; http://www.kolbe-kolbe.com
* Window distributor: Squaw Creek Millwork; Hiawatha, Iowa; http://www.scm-iowa.com

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Filed under: AIA, CLIENT NEWS, Green Goals, Homes + Neighborhoods, Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co. | Comments Off on Client News: Architect creates his own high-performance dream home with windows and doors from Kolbe