Manufacturing safety was an area of focus during the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 2015 Fall Conference. Terry Burkhalter, an authorized Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) instructor and trainer, discussed risk management and safety in manufacturing on Mon., Oct. 19 during the event.

During his presentation that was part of the Manufacturing Safety Forum, Burkhalter focused on many areas of workplace safety, ranging from disaster preparedness to knowing your rights as an employer or an employee. Challenges faced by those in the workforce include weather  worker compensation, an aging workforce, work culture and regulatory updates like those from OSHA and those specifically pertaining to temporary workers. Early on, Burkhalter stressed the importance of being ready for extreme weather events such as droughts and hurricanes.

“Emergency planning does not keep up!” he said, adding that 43 percent of companies that experience a disaster never re-open.

Similar to remarks made by the event’s keynote speaker Ken Gronbach, Burkhalter also addressed the labor shortage currently felt by the industry, noting that the loss of skilled labor and an aging workforce is a problem for many reasons. For example, with older employees, the number of age-related injuries can increase.

Minimizing risk is crucial, according to Burkhalter, who advised forum participants to put in place safety policies now and to make sure they are followed. To best manage the risk process, Burkhalter says documentation is paramount.

“A policy is not a policy until it is enforced,” said Burkhalter. “How can you prove that you’ve enforced your own guidelines? Proof is key.”

He also cautioned attendees to maintain consistency with those set policies.

In terms of OSHA, Burkhalter reminded those at the forum that the organization’s purpose is to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources.

Burkhalter stated that, for the OSHA Interview Process, business leaders would be best served by knowing their rights.

“Know your rights and get with your attorneys,” he stressed. “Management can’t be there [during employee interviews after an incident] unless asked to be. But OSHA can’t stop your work.”

The AAMA Fall Conference concludes today with several reporting sessions, as well as a meeting of the board of directors.

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The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) welcomed Ken Gronbach as keynote speaker for the AAMA 2015 National Fall Conference. Gronbach is a demographer, futurist and author who writes about how countries’ age curves interact to create the opportunities and challenges of the world we live in today and what the future will bring for people, profits and the planet. Gronbach spoke about his research and work on Mon., Oct. 19, during the conference.

His presentation, “Simple Math: The Open Secret of the Demographic World,” answered the question, Why is demography important? As waves of generations are born and age, our fortunes and futures are re-determined, said Gronbach. He gave on overview on how America’s Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y and other countries’ age curves interact to create the opportunities and challenges of the world today. He also talked about what the future will bring for people, profits and the planet.

Information he shared included statistics on various age groups. “There’s no middle class? Actually, there’s no middle age!” There are much fewer people in that age class, said Gronbach. “There’s a gap in demographics from 31 to 50 years old.”

He also emphasized the importance demographics play on knowing your customer base. Generation Y, or those born in between 1985-2004, is bigger than the Boomers, who total about 86 million, said Gronbach.

“They will build small sustainable homes,” he said. “Generation X rejected the technical ‘blue collar’ jobs, so Generation Y is picking those up as Boomers retire.”

He advised companies to take advantage of the Boomers’ knowledge base, while they still can. “Don’t let Boomers retire along with all their knowledge!” said Gronbach. “Encourage them to pass it on to younger employees.”

Gronbach also predicted that an estimated 25 million housing units will be needed soon as the largest U.S. generation ever begins to marry, have kids and need housing.

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The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has added Diana Hanson, regulatory affairs manager, to its ranks. Hanson comes to AAMA with association experience as a founding member of the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA).

While with NADRA, she presented at International Code Council hearings, which will aid her in the codes-related work she will provide for AAMA. Hanson also has experience in the legal field, previously working as both a paralegal and technical writer.

“We are very fortunate to have Diana join AAMA in the role of regulatory affairs manager,” says AAMA’s president and CEO, Rich Walker. “She will be a valuable asset of the association and our members, bringing with her a wealth of code-related knowledge, technical writing and editing, and association experience. Her legal background will also serve us well in the Regulatory Affairs and Energy Advocate arenas, and we are pleased to welcome her to AAMA.”

Hanson operates from her home in Idaho and will participate in the AAMA Fall Conference in Cambridge, Maryland; Oct. 18-21.

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ROCKFON® introduces its new Cinema Black™ acoustic stone wool ceiling panels. These low-reflection, black surfaces and high-performing sound-absorptive ceiling panels can cost-effectively improve both the visual and acoustic experience in auditoriums, restaurants, and spaces specially designed for music, film and live performances.

ROCKFON Cinema Black ceiling panels offer Noise Reduction Coefficients (NRC) up to 0.95, sustainable design benefits and high fire performance. These ROCKFON stone wool ceiling products are made from basalt rock and contain up to 43 percent recycled material. Further contributing to environmental goals, ROCKFON’s extensive portfolio of stone wool acoustic ceiling solutions has earned UL® Environment’s GREENGUARD Gold Certification for low-emitting products.

ROCKFON stone wool ceiling panels in North America also are UL/ULC certified for Flame Spread and Smoke Development. Non-combustible, stone wool can withstand temperatures up to 2150 °F (1177 °C) and resists melting, burning or creating significant smoke, which improves overall fire safety and limits building damage.

ROCKFON Cinema Black panels are offered with a square lay-in edge designation, and available in 2-by-2 foot or 2-by-4 foot modular sizes with either 5/8-inch or 1-inch thicknesses. These lightweight ceiling panels are easy to carry, to cut and to install in standard 15/16-inch ceiling suspension systems.

Providing low maintenance and long-term durability, the panels are dimensionally stable at up to 100 percent relative humidity and factory painted. ROCKFON stone wool ceiling products supplied in North America are supported with a 30-year warranty.

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Amy Cole, President of Tubelite Inc.

Tubelite Inc., a leading supplier of storefront and entrance systems, has been fabricating and distributing extruded aluminum products for the glass and glazing industry since 1945. Tubelite, a Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce member, celebrated the company’s 70th anniversary with a ribbon-cutting event for employees and their families on Oct. 3, 2015.

Speakers at the event included:
* Jim Porter, CFO of Apogee Enterprises, Inc., Tubelite’s parent company
* Mayor Mark Huizenga of Walker, Michigan
* Amy Cole, president of Tubelite Inc.

State Representative Rob VerHeulen, Walker Mayor Mark Huizenga, Tubelite’s Amy Cole and Steve Green (photo by Brian Tobias)

“We are excited to reach this major milestone in our company history. We are thankful for our employees, our customers and our community for supporting us in this achievement,” said Cole. “We are proud that Tubelite’s dependable brand promise continues to give us direction as we serve our clients by consistently providing high-quality storefront, entrance and curtainwall systems — on time, complete and undamaged.”

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ESa, formerly known as Earl Swensson Architects, recently moved its headquarters into Gulch Crossing in Nashville, which the firm also designed. Opened in July 2015, ESa now occupies the top two floors of this new, 205,000-square-foot, eight-story, Class A office building. The high-performance curtainwall from Wausau Window and Wall Systems offer unobstructed views of downtown and supports the energy-efficient building’s LEED® Gold certification.

Environmental responsibility and energy consciousness are inherent values adopted in the design, construction and operation of not only Gulch Crossing, but also in the surrounding community. The Gulch was the first neighborhood in the South to receive LEED for Neighborhood Development Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Located near Music Row and Vanderbilt University’s campus, the area has become a sought-after destination.

Gulch Crossing’s sustainable design, efficient performance, prime location and attractive appearance are essential when asking a premium rental rate, the highest rental rate in Nashville. Nearly fully leased, it is the first office building to open in Nashville in the last six years. It also offers 16,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor.

Situated adjacent to active railway lines and busy bike and pedestrian paths, Gulch Crossing acts as the gateway to an emerging, vibrant, urban neighborhood. Highlighting this connection and heritage, its front entrance, called “The Boxcar,” is set at the same angle as the train tracks. The building’s main lobby included tables made with wood reclaimed from previous train station. In The Club Room at Gulch Crossing, the glass-enclosed, private gathering area provides a transparency between interior and exterior, opening onto a green plaza with an amenity deck.

From the two-story lobby through the eighth floor with ESa’s open-plan offices, Wausau’s curtainwall systems offer Gulch Crossing’s occupants floor-to-ceiling, panoramic views. Working closely with the ESa and general contractor JE Dunn Construction, glazing contractor Alexander Metals, Inc. installed a combined total of 46,500 square feet of Wausau’s 7250 SuperWall™ curtainwall and INvision™ 7250i-HRX unitized curtainwall.

As part of the Advantage by Wausau® standard product offering, the SuperWall and INvision curtainwall systems are pre-engineered to ensure the intended performance. Available on an accelerated delivery schedule, these competitively priced curtainwall systems are backed with an industry-leading warranty of up to 10 years.

Wausau’s unitized curtainwall systems are manufactured in ready-to-install units that span vertically from floor-to-floor. As the curtainwall units are pre-glazed under controlled conditions, rather than at the job site, building teams can be confident that the systems achieve their intended performance along with saving time and labor in the field.

“Using INvision unitized curtainwall, handling for each unit is minimized, which decreases the opportunity for a mishap and saves time overall. Installation time is a fraction of that necessary for field-glazed systems,” explains Corey Trcka, Advantage by Wausau’s wall products manager. He enthusiastically adds, “Alexander Metals was able to install more than 40 units a day!”

Ensuring a compatible installation and uniform sightlines, both of Wausau’s aluminum-framed systems used on Gulch Crossing are 7.25 inches deep with a 2.5-inch profile. Further enhancing the exterior appearance, Wausau custom-made some of the curtainwall cover plates into blade-like shapes.

Beyond aesthetics, Wausau’s INvision 7250i-HRX unitized curtainwall has a polyamide thermal barrier that provides enhanced condensation performance and low U-Factor, helping reduce the building’s HVAC peak loads and associated energy costs. For Gulch Crossing, this curtainwall achieves National Fenestration Ratings Council (NFRC) U-Factors averaging 0.37 BTU/hr-sqft-ºF with an American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 1503 Frame Condensation Resistance Factor (CRF) of 78.  Wausau’s curtainwall combines high performance with the recognized benefits of natural light, ventilation and views. Further contributing to this project’s sustainable design goals, Wausau’s aluminum systems were manufactured with an average of 74 percent recycled content.

Linetec finished the curtainwall aluminum framing and covers using a two-coat 70 percent polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin-based coating. The Black Onyx color was custom-blended in Linetec’s in-house laboratory. As an environmentally responsible finisher, Linetec captures the liquid paints’ volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to eliminate the exhaust of potential pollutants. Tested to meet the stringent AAMA 2605 specifications, the resulting, durable coating ensures a long-lasting finish.

For the first time in more than 30 years, Gulch Crossing unites ESa’s 185 employees on two open-office concept floors with a communicating stair. The new headquarters showcases the firm’s skillset as well as its brand. Employees were previously scattered over five floors in their former location. As Todd Hilbert, AIA, principal and project director of Gulch Crossing, told Nashville’s The News in July, “In designing our new office, we stepped back and evaluated our clients, staff and project types. We placed employees in an open environment that encourages collaboration between people with the same vision, passion, values and project responsibilities to more efficiently serve our clients.”

Eric Klotz, senior design manager and lead designer of Gulch Crossing, added, “We get to design spaces for clients every day, but, for ourselves, it’s once in an individual’s career.”

In total, Gulch Crossing brings up to 800 office workers to the Gulch neighborhood each weekday. In 2001, the City of Nashville designated MarketStreet Enterprises as the Master Developer of the Gulch. Since that time, MarketStreet, a privately held real estate investment and development company with the purpose of created a lasting and positive impact on the built environment of downtown Nashville, upholds the Master Plan to spearhead the urban revitalization through numerous public and private sector initiatives.

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ESa offices at The Gulch Crossing, 1033 Demonbreun St., Suite 800, Nashville, Tennessee 37203; http://www.gulchcrossing.com
* Developer: MarketStreet Enterprises; Nashville; http://www.nashvillegulch.com
* Architect and interior designer: ESa; Nashville; http://esarch.com
* General contractor: JE Dunn Construction; Brentwood, Tennessee; http://www.jedunn.com
* Glazing contractor: Alexander Metals, Inc.; Nashville; http://www.alexandermetalsinc.com
* Glazing systems – curtainwall manufacturer: Wausau Window and Wall Systems; Wausau, Wisconsin; http://www.wausauwindow.com
* Glazing systems – finishing: Linetec; Wausau, Wisconsin; http://www.linetec.com
* Project photos by: Attic Fire, courtesy of ESa, Nashville
* Video of construction: https://vimeo.com/109379204

Nationally recognized for its innovative expertise, Wausau Window and Wall Systems is an industry leader in engineering window and curtainwall systems for commercial and institutional construction applications. For more than 55 years, Wausau has worked closely with architects, building owners and contractors to realize their vision for aesthetic beauty, sustainability and lasting value, while striving to maintain the highest level of customer service, communication and overall satisfaction. Wausau is a part of Apogee Enterprises, Inc., a publicly held, U.S. corporation.
 
Wausau and its staff are members of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the APPA – Leadership in Educational Facilities, the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), Glass Association of North America (GANA), the National Fenestration Ratings Council (NFRC) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

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Fraser House, a new Colorado Zero Net Energy Home (ZEH), elevates energy efficiency to new heights. Recently built in the mountains of Fraser, Colorado, the home is situated at 8,000 feet with an average annual temperature of 34ºF. Meeting the project’s requirements for attractive aesthetics, high performance and durability, Linetec provided the vibrant finish for Loewen windows and doors.

Designed by Caddis Architecture (previously Bryan Bowen Architecture), the 5,320-square-foot Fraser House was built for an ultra-marathoner who sought an energy-efficient, healthy home that includes a gym, an endless pool, regular living areas, a guest home and a two-car heated garage, plus a woodshop outbuilding.

Maximizing thermal performance, natural light, comfortable interior living space and stunning mountain views, Loewen provided its awning and fixed/picture window, as well as terrace doors and a three-panel LiftSlide door with Heat-Smart® high-performance glazing. Manufactured by Cardinal Glass Industries, this glazing system includes low-e coatings, argon-filled air spaces and thermal spacer bars. The exterior aluminum cladding is set away from the underlying wood, creating an air space that further improves thermal performance.

Minimizing maintenance throughout the home’s lifespan, Linetec finished Loewen’s windows and doors in an orange-red Bonfire color, part of Valspar’s Fluropon® Premiere, a three-coat 70 percent polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin-based, high-performance architectural coating. These durable coatings meet the stringent requirements of AAMA 2605 and exhibit outstanding resistance to humidity, color change, chalk, gloss loss and chemicals.

ZEHs are usually built with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde containing finishes or materials, providing a healthy, clean, non-toxic environment for its residents. As an environmentally responsible finisher, Linetec captures the liquid paints’ VOC content to eliminate the exhaust of potential pollutants. The primary environmental concern with liquid paints is the solvents, which may have VOC content and must be destroyed safely. Linetec uses a 100 percent air capture system and destroys the VOCs with a regenerative thermal oxidizer, so there is no adverse environmental impact. Linetec then re-uses its heat energy byproduct to improve process energy efficiency. This process of re-use is completed before the material exits the paint line.

As a ZEH, Fraser House produces as much energy as it consumes, and also produces zero net carbon emissions from the site. Once a ZEH is designed as energy efficient as possible, it uses photovoltaic (PV) collectors, or other renewables, to produce sufficient electricity to meet the minimal remaining energy needs of the home. The high-performing windows and doors optimize efficient energy use by keeping the Colorado cold outside and the heat inside.

The Fraser House also received a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index Score of -22, indicating it is exceptionally 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, windows and doors.

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Colorado Zero Net Energy Home, http://www.zerohomes.org/zero-energy-homes
* Owner: Fraser Household
* Architect: Caddis pc; Boulder, Colorado; http://www.caddispc.com
* Builder: Ecofutures, Inc.; Boulder, Colorado; http://www.ecofuturesbuilding.com
* Window and door systems – manufacturer: Loewen; Steinbach, Manitoba; http://www.loewen.com
* Window and door systems – glass manufacturer: Cardinal Glass Industries, Inc.; Minneapolis; http://www.cardinalcorp.com
* Window and door systems – finisher: Linetec; Wausau, Wisconsin; http://www.linetec.com
*Window and door systems – coatings manufacturer: The Valspar Corporation; Minneapolis; http://www.valsparinspireme.com
* Photographer: Daniel O’Connor Photography

Located in Wisconsin, Linetec serves customers across the country, finishing such products as aluminum windows, wall systems, doors, hardware and other architectural metal components, as well as automotive, marine and manufactured consumer goods. The company is a subsidiary of Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOG).

Linetec is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Association of Licensed Architects (ALA), the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

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Now in its seventh year, Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum hosts its annual Wayzgoose Type Conference on Nov. 6-8. Participants may register online at http://woodtype.org.

Featured speakers for Wayzgoose 2015 include:

* Louise Fili – principal of Louise Fili Ltd., specializing in food packaging and restaurant identities. Formerly senior designer for Herb Lubalin, she was art director of Pantheon Books for 11 years, where she designed more than 2,000 book jackets. She is a member of the Art Directors Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the AIGA Medal for Lifetime Achievement. A best-selling monograph of her work, Elegantissima, was published in 2012.

In addition to her Friday night lecture, Fili’s first typeface design will be unveiled during the Wayzgoose. Named “Mardell” for retired Hamilton type cutter, Mardell Doubek, this typeface will be available in both digital and wood type formats in early 2016.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate two of my favorite subjects: women and Italy,” said Fili. “The bold, lively angularity of Italian futurist letterforms made it a natural choice for wood type. And since it is rare to find a typeface named after a woman, I was particularly pleased to know that this would pay tribute to veteran type cutter Mardell Doubek.”

* Steven Heller – co-chair of the M.F.A. Design/Designer as Author + Entrepreneur program and the School of Visual Arts Masters Workshop in Rome. He writes a weekly column for The Atlantic online and The Daily Heller/Imprint online. He has written more than 170 books on graphic design, illustration and political art.

* Marian Bantjes – typographer, designer, artist and writer. Her work is included in the permanent collection of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Thames & Hudson published her book titled, I Wonder, and a monograph of her work titled, Pretty Pictures. She is a member of Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI).

* Daniel Rhatigan – Monotype’s type director of Type Libraries. He works on custom type development projects and consults on typographic issues.

Other speakers and practitioners sharing their knowledge and insights during Wayzgoose 2015’s three-day conference are:
* Judith Berliner – owner of Full Circle Press
* Laurie Corral – owner and director of Asheville Book Works
* Doug Clouse – designer, writer, partner of The Graphics Office, and a teacher at Fashion Institute of Technology at the State University of New York
* Amanda Degener – sculptor, co-proprietor of Cave Paper Inc., and a founder of the Minnesota Center for Book Arts
* Eva De La Rocha – printer and founder of Familia Plómez, a non-profit printing co-op
* Dan Elliott – designer, educator and letterpress printer based in North Carolina
* Paul Gehl – curator of the Newberry Library’s collections on the history of printing
* Tracy Honn – artist, educator, curator, printer and the director of Silver Buckle Press; also serves on Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum’s artistic board of advisors
* Bridget O’Malley – master papermaker, co-proprietor of Cave Paper Inc., and a teacher at Minneapolis College of Art and Design
* Judith Poirier – professor at the École de design, Université du Québec à Montréal
* Dan Schneider – industrial archaeologist, whose master’s degree thesis addressed worker skill in wood printing type manufacture at the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum
* Mark Simonson – independent type designer based in St. Paul, Minnesota
* Melanie Stockwell – owner of The Calico Press, director of the Villages Folk School, and county representative for the Southeast Iowa Artists Studio Tour
* Eric Woods – owner and founder of The Firecracker Press

“Wayzgoose brings together designers, printers, typographers and letter geeks of all stripes from across the globe,” says museum director Jim Moran. “To keep a personal, hands-on approach, attendance is limited to 200 and filling quickly.” Capacity is full for the Nov. 6 workshops, but attendees may request that their names be added to a waiting list.

Conference rates are $200 for students, $200 for members and $250 for non-members. Lodging is not included. Local hotel recommendations are available on Hamilton’s website. Wayzgoose 2015 will be held in Hamilton’s museum at 1816 10th St., Two Rivers, Wisconsin, across the road from Lake Michigan. The museum relocated to this 85,000-square-foot building in Nov. 2013. The move was made possible thanks to hundreds of volunteers and donors.

“A handful of amazing companies have stepped up to support us as Wayzgoose sponsors this year. We couldn’t do this without them,” added Hamilton’s assistant director, Stephanie Carpenter.

Wayzgoose 2015 sponsors include:
* Event sponsor – Adobe Typekit
* Quarto sponsor – Neenah Paper
* Quarto sponsor – Monotype
* Octavo sponsor – Mohawk

Ongoing support is needed to continue the museum’s educational outreach; collection acquisition, curation and exhibition; and facility upgrades. Please visit http://www.woodtype.org/support to make a donation.

About Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum
The Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum 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. In addition to wood type, the museum is home to an amazing array of advertising cuts from the 1930s through the 1970s, all of the equipment necessary to make wood type and print with it, as well as equipment used in the production of hot metal type, tools of the craft and rare type specimen catalogs.

Hamilton Wood Type began producing type in 1880 and within 20 years became the largest provider in the United States. Today, volunteers of the Two Rivers Historical Society preserve this legacy and host educational demonstrations, field trips, workshops and offer opportunities with this vast wood type collection.

Follow Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum on Twitter at @hamiltonwoodtyp, on Facebook, on Flickr or on YouTube, or visit http://www.woodtype.org.

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The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) announces that its air-water-structural product certification program has been granted accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065-2012 Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services. The scope of the accreditation includes Doors and Windows (91.050.60). Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065 confirms that administration of the AAMA certification program conforms to the high procedural standards of these international requirements.

“This is an important achievement for AAMA’s certification programs,” says AAMA’s certification manager, Jason Seals. “Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065 requires that we maintain a robust and well documented program, and that we pass these requirements down to the program participants. It also helps to ensure that products certified by AAMA licensees meet the product standards as claimed by their labeling and listings in the AAMA Certified Products Directory.”

AAMA was the first certification body to be accredited by ANSI in 1972. The association’s air-water-structural certification program has maintained this accreditation for 43 years.

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* Tubelite will be exhibiting at GlassBuild America booth #2306 and CSI CONSTRUCT #907 *

Louisville’s new Southwest Regional Library recently opened its doors, which were provided by Tubelite Inc. along with its curtainwall and storefront framing. This new 40,000-square-foot, $10.2 million library boasts more than 120,000 books and materials, 100 public computers and the largest children’s library in the system. With respect to long-term environmental and economic sustainability, the project is pursuing LEED® Gold certification.

Southwest Regional Library is part of a master plan developed in 2008 by Minneapolis-based Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle (MSR). It is the first of three new buildings planned by the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) system. “The master plan really set the vision for the service to the entire community. It included how to deal with their existing facilities, but also to be able to expand the service into areas and communities that are under reached,” explained MSR’s principal and architect, Matthew Kruntorad, AIA, LEED AP.

JRA Architects of Louisville collaborated with LFPL and MSR on Southwest Regional Library’s design. Sullivan Cozart served as the project’s construction manager and glazing contractor Koch Corporation specified and installed Tubelite’s entrance, curtainwall and window wall systems.

Kruntorad elaborated, “It’s essentially a one-story open floor plan. Tubelite’s systems supported one of our overriding goals, which was to bring the children’s area up front, expressing the activity within the library and making it directly visible as one approached the building.”

The exterior was inspired by the act of discovery, with symbolic metal curtains that are peeled away to reveal greater knowledge within. Kruntorad continued, “The main entrance features two pairs of 9-foot-tall, wide stile doors from Tubelite – two pairs swing in and two swing out. Tubelite’s curtainwall also provided a key element for the library’s design’s daylight and transparency.”

Tubelite’s structurally glazed curtainwall allowed the project “to eliminate the exterior metal mullion covers, create an extremely clean exterior appearance and make the curtainwalls appear as open as possible,” added JRA’s project architect, Colin Drake, AIA, LEED AP. “Overall, the façade is like a village of buildings, set side by side. The building takes on a much more personal scale than the overwhelming monolithic façades common with the surrounding suburban context.”

Multiple concepts were reviewed during the project’s design planning phase. Drake remembered, “Originally, we had a much more monolithic building to try and compete with the scale of much larger nearby buildings. Then, we decided to break up the façade, pushing and pulling the pieces in plan and elevation to express the interior planning more clearly on the exterior, as well as creating opportunities for visitors to discover nuances about the building as they approached. The central curtainwall, which was dubbed the ‘beacon bay,’ stands above the rest of the building to draw sunlight deep into the building during the day and use the interior lighting to glow outward in the evening.”

The beacon bay features glazing frosted on the exterior and interior in offset, vertical stripes. From a distance, it appears to be a solid frost, but up close is revealed to allow clear views through the glass at certain angles. “In a truly progressive modern library, lighting is everything,” said Drake. By incorporating clerestories on the beacon bay, as well as in other strategic spots, the abundance of natural light in the space allows artificial lighting to be reduced in real time to minimize energy consumption.

Further supporting energy-efficiency criteria, both the curtainwall and window wall incorporate low-e insulating glass to reduce solar heat gain in the summer and heat loss in winter, thus ensuring year-round comfort for Louisville library users. “The storefront framing design allows for economical, on-site fabrication. It also virtually eliminates the transference of frost and condensation with industry-standard thermal breaks, providing framing members to incorporate the library’s entrance doors,” said Jim Oberlin, Tubelite’s Eastern regional sales manager.

Complementing the doors and window wall, Tubelite’s 400 Series curtainwall proved ideal for the scale and metallic aesthetic of the new library. To ensure a precise installation, Koch’s glazing team conducted field measurements prior to Tubelite manufacturing it. An eight-person crew handled the on-site installation, which was completed in October 2014. Koch’s project manager, Edwin Penna, noted, “We have a long-term relationship with Tubelite. We know how to work well together to meet the unique requirements of each project.”

Tubelite’s 400 Series curtainwall features 2.5-inch sightlines and an overall 6-inch system depth. Its durable framework provides exceptional structural performance, reducing the need for steel reinforcing. The aluminum used to produce Tubelite systems was extruded using EcoLuminum™, a high recycled-content aluminum billet composition with eco-friendly finishes.

Enhancing the project’s environmental attributes, longevity and metallic appearance, the recycled aluminum framing was finished by Linetec using clear anodize on the interior and bronze anodize on the exterior. Because anodize is an integral part of the substrate, the coating delivers excellent wear and abrasion resistance with minimal maintenance. Anodize process by-products are recyclable and anodized aluminum is 100 percent recyclable.

Recognizing Southwest Regional Library’s exceptional design with metal, the project was named the overall winner in the 2014 Metal Construction News Building and Roofing Awards.

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Southwest Regional Library, 9725 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40272, http://www.lfpl.org/branches/southwest.htm
* Owner: Louisville Free Public Library; Louisville, Kentucky; http://www.lfpl.org
* Architect: Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd.; Minneapolis; http://msrdesign.com
* Architect: JRA Architects; Louisville, Kentucky; http://jrarchitects.com
* Construction manager: Sullivan Cozart; Louisville, Kentucky; http://www.sullivancozart.com
* Glazing contractor: Koch Corporation; Louisville, Kentucky; http://kochcorporation.com
* Curtainwall, window wall and entrance systems – manufacturer: Tubelite Inc.; Walker, Michigan; http://www.tubeliteinc.com
* Curtainwall, window wall and entrance systems – finisher: Linetec; Wausau, Wisconsin; http://linetec.com
* Photographer: Lara Swimmer Photography

About Tubelite Inc.

Tubelite was established in 1945 and is part of Apogee Enterprises, Inc. The company’s headquarters, distribution, warehousing and assembly operations are in Walker, Michigan. Its facility in Reed City, Michigan, houses the company’s aluminum extrusion operation. In 2011, the company expanded with an additional facility in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and offices in Rockhill, South Carolina, to better serve clients working in the southern states.

Tubelite and its staff are members of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), the Glass Association of North America (GANA), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

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Filed under: AAMA, AIA, Buildings + Infrastructure, CLIENT NEWS, CSI, Events, GANA, Green Goals, Linetec, Projects, Tubelite Inc., USGBC | Comments Off on Client News: New Louisville library begins another chapter with Tubelite systems