Wall Wisdom
In its original condition and based on
2006 fuel prices, the annual cost to heat
Building 3 was estimated to be $350,000.
The challenges of the renovation were not
only to bring the structure up to current
building and safety standards, but also to
make it as effi cient as possible while main-
taining the original architectural character
and craftsmanship.
The solution was to add insulation to
the walls and roof, as well as retrofi t the
south-facing walls using an outer layer of
metal wall panels that capture the heat
from the sun to pre-heat ventilation air.
A total of 11,670 square feet of 0.032 alumi-
num wall panels with a black KYNAR 500
PVDF- or HYLAR 5000 PVDF-based paint
system were used in the installation.
The solar-collector panels are perforated
and installed several inches from the
waterproof wall of the building, creating
an air space between them. During cold
months, the system is designed to provide
pre-heated fresh air for the building by VENTILATION FANS MOUNTED
collecting the heat from the sun, generated
INSIDE THE BUILDING DRAW
when the suns rays warm the air at the
THE SOLAR-HEATED AIR THROUGH
surface of the dark-colored panels. Ventila-
tion fans mounted inside the building
THE PERFORATIONS, INTO THE
draw the solar-heated air through the WALL CAVITY AND THEN INTO
perforations, into the wall cavity and
THE BUILDING’S INTERIOR THROUGH
then into the building’s interior through
CONVENTIONAL DUCTWORK.
conventional ductwork.
The wall system also provides passive
cooling in the summer by using a bypass
damper that is opened at night to draw in
cool air via the ventilation fans. The air then clearance between overhead cranes and T5HO lamps were installed where addi-
is distributed inside the building using duc- structural ironwork, destratifi cation fans tional lighting was needed. Lights are on
twork. Because Cigas Machine’s production were installed to further achieve optimal preset schedules and connected to light-
area is not equipped with air conditioning, air circulation. ing sensors that continuously evaluate
this feature provides a more comfortable information to determine light levels in
environment for employees as they start More to the Eye various parts of the building. In addition,
their workday. In extreme weather condi- Further renovations to Building 3 include rainwater from the roof is captured in a
tions, a thermal economizer air turnover replacing the roof deck and roofi ng with a 78,000-gallon barrel and used for process
unit is installed to supplement the system cool metal roof that refl ects solar heat back and sanitary purposes on the property.
during days when there is weak sunlight into the atmosphere, reducing the build- With a little TLC, a building that
and cold temperatures. ing’s cooling needs during summer months. played a role in creating our nation’s
Because ceilings in the building are Skylights were installed throughout the icons once again is contributing to
more than 65-feet high and there is limited building, and fl uorescent fi xtures using our economy.
56 FALL 2009 // RETROFIT MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF ATAS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Retrofit_sept09.indd 56 9/24/09 11:31 PM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68