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such as seniors’ groups, competitive swimming clubs, and others,” points out Albertine.
Central to OpenAire’s success is a deep appreciation of the owner’s vision, and that starts with design. “In the design concept phase, OpenAire works closely with the owner, developer, archi- tect, and/or engineer to understand the project vision, perform a thorough needs analysis, and develop options,” explains David Bolwerk, the firm’s vice president of sales and marketing. “Some clients come to us with detailed plans, and it’s a matter of designing to specifi- cation, while others come to us with a sketch on a napkin. Our job, at this point, is to turn vision into reality. That’s the part of design that we really love— there’s no greater feeling than seeing a satisfied client whose vision we’ve brought to life.”
What truly differentiates OpenAire, he continues, is its customization of every project. Each structure will share several core features, such as all-season versatility (via retractable roof and side panels); thermal breaks and vapor barriers, which work to control conden- sation and air-filtration; rain sensors that automatically close the retractable roof; and, in some cases, bifolding doors and sidewalls, which, when coupled with the retractable roof, allow a user to open a structure completely to the outdoors. Beyond those essential features, every OpenAire creation is unique, from the custom colors to the materials that can be integrated into the buildings, such as stone, slate, stucco, block, brick, standing seams, and more.
“In every case, OpenAire looks beyond just providing a solution to becoming a client’s partner, working collaboratively to create a vision and deliver a solution that will yield the best results,” sums up Albertine.
The Toronto Cricket club is OpenAire-y inside
Photo Credit: St. George
Making a Dream Come True What OpenAire does best is offer concrete—or, in fact, aluminum— solutions to difficult challenges. Take, for instance, the case of the Hockessin Athletic Club, in Hockessin, Delaware. Co-owners Bob Carpenter and Roger Ralph wanted to build an exceptional, state-of-the-art, full-amenity club from the ground up, one complete with a variety of aquatic programs. Architect Phil McWilliams, of Rocchi Construc- tion, took the pair to see the OpenAire retractable roof enclosure at the Amer- icana Resort, in Niagara Falls, Ontario. “We were completely blown away,” says Carpenter. “After Phil, Roger, and I visited the Americana, we knew we had to have an enclosure for ourselves.” To meet Hockessin’s needs, OpenAire created a 17,520-square- foot freestanding enclosure to house four of the club’s five pools. The struc- ture, constructed with an aluminum frame, features 18 operable roof panels that can open up to 7,000 square feet (almost 50%) of the roof
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area, 13 horizontal sliding doors, and ten 10' aluminum-and-glass overhead doors, which open up more than 50% of the sidewalls, making it an outdoor facility during the summer months and a comfortable, naturally lit space in cool or inclement weather.
“The fact that the building is an
aluminum structure with a thermally broken glazing system is great in terms of energy-efficiency and cost savings,” notes McWilliams. “Plus, the ability to open up so much of the roof with just the push of a button is invaluable.” The building’s energy-efficient system works in conjunction with a heat-recovery system to exhaust warm air. The only mechanical-system requirements are for winter months, when some dehumidification and heating are needed to keep the pool area warm. But, even in cold weather, the glazed structure is designed to trap heat from the sun, maintaining a comfortable temperature while keeping heating costs low. —|
NOVEMBER 2011 | Club Business Internat ional 99
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