Skip to main content

Problem solving in Asheville with R-Trac & ALPOLIC® materials

When new energy codes requiring continuous insulation for the building envelope were adopted by the state of North Carolina, the developers of the recently opened Asheville City Center sought out a cost-effective design that met code requirements while still allowing the building to feel open from the outside.

Architects chose tall, thin windows that let light in and prioritized energy efficiency. Spacing the windows evenly apart and flush with the rest of the building’s envelope gave the windows an interesting staggered pattern. Recessing them by three inches provided the building with a sense of depth and dimension.

The architectural team considered insulated metal panels, but for this mid-scale project, ALPOLIC®’s practical, versatile materials proved the better fit for both their vision and their budget.

“With the insulated panels, it’s not cost effective to have many different widths,” architect Aaron Brumo of design firm Clark Nexsen explains. “But with ACM, we could have 100 different size panels if we wanted to. Plus, the panels were available in a wide selection of stock ALPOLIC colors.” 

Complex Design, Simple Construction, Minimal Cost

The materials were installed using the innovative R-Trac HVHZ pressure-equalized rainscreen system, developed through a collaboration between Mitsubishi Chemical Composites America, Rmax, and Altech Panel Systems. 

In compliance with the latest energy efficiency codes, the R-Trac system works with continuous insulation. It is specifically designed to meet wind loading and missile impact standards for high velocity hurricane zones, and meets the NFPA 285 standard for limiting fire propagation. 

Doug McIntyre, director of research and business development at Altech Panel Systems and the fabricator of this project’s R-Trac system, notes that one advantage of a continuous insulation system with an R-Trac rainscreen is that it’s an all-inclusive system. This reduces costs by eliminating the need to have multiple trades on site. 

A Perfect Combination

The R-Trac system and ALPOLIC® materials are the perfect marriage of innovative materials and design engineering. Of the R-Trac system, Brumo says: “It really simplifies the design, the assembly of the skin.”

McIntyre notes that ALPOLIC® materials pair perfectly with his company’s innovative rainscreen system.  “We’ve been using ALPOLIC® materials for years,” he says.  “We’ve always felt they have a very good product.  Their colors are, we feel, superior to others in the industry. Quality and service, they’re A-number one.”

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Walk-in Shower Specialists In Los Angeles California

If you wish to look for a walk-in showering system, we're just a call away. We have been the shop to consider if you'd like custom bath and showering systems and we've been a popular choice for more than 12 years. Our designs are elegant and spacious and it could be equipped with popular features that will provide you with a calming spa-like experience every time you hit the shower. You could check out our extensive list of walk-in showers in Los Angeles CA from the best brands like Ella, Sterling and Dreamline and they come in various sizes that will fit any type of bathroom. These brands also provide selections for safety features such as comfortably positioned and easy-to-hold grab-bar, low floor threshold and a high weight supporting seating area. You could enjoy an energizing shower experience with our walk-in shower which can be customized to blend into any theme or background. We are also proud of our installation team because they're friendly and fast. All ...

Right On Hue - Ideas For Incorporating Color In Your Kitchen Remodel - Dover Home Remodelers

Right On Hue. Ideas for incorporating color in your kitchen remodel When it comes to bringing color into the kitchen, many homeowners take an all-or-nothing approach. What I hear most often from customers during the design stage of a kitchen remodel is that their overwhelming fear is committing to a color that will lock them in—and adversely affect resale. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’d like to add color to your kitchen, there are options for creatively incorporating your favorite hues into your remodel without being completely landlocked. Start by identifying your color personality and tolerance. Then add color to your space in a way that suits your taste and stays within your comfort zone. The Minimalist. Clean, simple and classic: These homeowners are drawn to the all-white kitchen trend with quartz or marble countertops, white cabinets and white subway tile. Easy (and non-permanent) ways to add contrasting color in these spaces include: Textiles: Kitchen towels...

Cooking Outside the Box - Fine Homebuilding

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. Designed by a passionate Dutchman who longed for a more functional kitchen, PITT Cooking’s independent gas burners take kitchen layout to a whole new level. Unlike the fixed grid of burners in a typical cooktop, PITT burners sit in individual holes in a countertop in a custom layout of your choosing (as long as they are at least 3-3/16-in. apart). This lets you match the spacing precisely to the way you cook. Plus you get the striking combination of a professional-grade kitchen with minimalist modern aesthetic. 3 burner sizes: small (2 kW), medium (3 kW), and combined wok/simmer (5 kW) 31 different kits with 1 to 6 burners each Available in aluminum or brass with cast-iron pan supports Burners easily disassemble for cleaning Pricing available on request pittcooking.com PITT Cooking’s wok ring slips right over the 5kW burners to perfectly support round-bottom pots or pans...