Vol.04 No.01
If you have a product that is sustainable, innovative or advancing the design of a specific typology and would like to be featured in an upcoming issue, please contact us at projects(at)architypereview.com.
products
Presented below in the words and images of their own creative team, the following products also offer an index of ideas and solutions within the industry.
01. Recycled Glass Content
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LINIT Channel Glass
Bendheim Wall Systems is the exclusive North American distributor for Lamberts channel glass produced by the ecologically-sensitive Glasfabrik Lamberts in the Bavaria region of Germany.
Germany is recognized as one of the world’s leaders in glass recycling; Christoph Lamberts has confirmed that the amount of post-consumer recycled glass represents roughly 40% of the raw material used in standard Lamberts channel glass production, “This considerable amount is possible, among other facts, because we cooperate with special recycling companies who have established a sophisticated, in some parts computer-aided, filtering system which allows us to use only the best and very homogeneous broken glass in order to be able to provide an excellent glass quality.” Besides its high recycled glass content, Lamberts channel glass is produced in Europe’s first oxygen-fueled glass plant. Oxygen-fueled glass plants are noted for minimizing nitrogen oxide emissions and reducing the amount of energy required to produce a ton of glass. Lamberts channel glass is still the only channel glass produced in an oxygen-fueled glass plant.
The high post-consumer recycled content and production in an oxygen-fueled glass plant contributed to Lamberts channel glass’ selection as a Sustainable Industries Top 10 Green Building Product of 2008 - the only glass product to be so honored.
Proprietary to Lamberts is a sophisticated system of electrical filters which reduces particulates in waste gasses generated by the glass melting process. Lamberts’ specialized cooling ponds, containing special plants and fish, remain clean and algae-free eliminating the need for chemical additives. Glass packing methods are carefully monitored to ensure maximum utilization of recycled materials throughout the factory.
These attributes result in a superior, self-supporting daylighting product for exterior walls and interior partitions.
In the USA, besides various local and regional AIA Awards, two Lamberts channel glass projects were chosen as national AIA/COTE Award winners:
-The AMB Property headquarters in Pier 1, San Francisco, designed by SMWM, in 2002. Our first project honored by the Urban Land Institute and the first American project to win an award from Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in Britain.
-Sarah Lawrence College’s Heimbold Visual Arts Center, designed by Polshek Partnership, in 2005. Our first LEED project was the only double winner in 2008’s first joint Building Type Awards from the AIA NY Chapter and the Boston Society of Architects. (photo above: center)
Lamberts channel glass was a featured performance element in the USA’s first major building designed to the Swiss Minergie® energy-savings standard:
-Steven Holl and Justin Rüssli’s Swiss Embassy residence in Washington, DC, the first BWS project to win an exclusive Royal Institute of British Architects International Award.
Other “firsts” include:
-Bronx Library Center, New York City’s first public LEED building, designed by Dattner Architects and winner of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and NYC Department of Environmental Protection award.
-The Santa Monica Civic Center Parking Structure, designed by Moore Ruble Yudell, the USA’s first LEED public parking structure. (photo above: left)
- Triffo Hall at the University of Alberta in Edmonton designed by Johns Group2, our first Canadian LEED project.
Other Lamberts channel glass projects with green design in mind include:
- Silver Lake Branch Library - Los Angeles, CA – M2A Architects, LEED
- CADE Winery/PlumpJack - Angwin, CA - Lail Designs, LEED
- Contra Costa County District Attorney's office - Martinez, CA - Kava Massih Architects
- Encina Wastewater Authority Operations Building - Carlsbad, CA - Platt/Whitelaw Architects
-The Minneapolis Central Library - Cesar Pelli
- Bloch Building at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO - Steven Holl Architects’ AIA 2008 Honor Award winner, 2008 Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award winner, and short listed for the first World Architecture Festival Awards in 2008 (photo above: right) |
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02. Green Concrete Technology |
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IntegraTek ™
An area commonly overlooked in the construction of green buildings is concrete waterproofing. Conventional waterproofing methods typically involve permanently attaching a protective membrane/coating to the concrete. However, these systems are often petroleum-based and applied using high VOC adhesives. Concrete should be a sustainable material-sand, rock, water, and cement. Because of high toxicity materials that are added to the concrete or petroleum-based membranes that are permanently attached, concrete may lose its sustainable characteristics. Hycrete Admixtures provide integral protection and membrane-free construction which allow concrete to remain a sustainable building material.
Product: Hycrete Element is the technology component of the IntegraTek Waterproofing System and is a Cradle to Cradle certified material through McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry. Hycrete Inc.'s integral concrete waterproofing and corrosion control products are deemed environmentally intelligent and do not alter or detract concrete's existing sustainable aspects. Hycrete Inc.'s products do not pose a negative impact to the environment but enhance concrete durability and performance. Using the Hycrete IntegraTek Waterproofing System may contribute toward LEED credits. Hycrete, Inc. is committed to safety and environmental protection. The Company has made a commitment to providing products with high performance and eco-intelligence while serving its customers with utmost attention. Hycrete, Inc. is listed under the Consumer Specialty Products Association's Product CareSM program where the participants have pledged to voluntarily develop management principles for each of the seven areas in a product's life cycle. Hycrete, Inc. is an approved provider of AIA continuing education credits and is also a member of the US Green Building Council. Hycrete, Inc. is listed in GreenSpec, which is BuildingGreen's directory of more than 2,100 environmentally preferable building products.
Parking: Parking structures are a perfect application for Hycrete Element because they benefit from the combined waterproofing and corrosion inhibition. Traffic coatings are often used in conjunction with corrosion inhibitors. On average these traffic coatings need to be re-applied every five years and by using Hycrete Element, there is no need for this periodic maintenance - one treatment in fresh concrete is all that is needed, which reduces operational costs and facility downtime due to repair. |
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03. Mesh Shading Systems |
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Parkade™ & Solucent™ Metal Fabrics
Cambridge Architectural Mesh saves energy by acting as a solar shading device. The metal mesh (manufactured with recycled materials) shades the sun - reducing heat load, cooling requirements and ultimately energy consumption.
Cambridge Architectural Mesh provides a unique alternative to traditional shading systems, and can be designed for almost any opacity, shading or heat reduction requirements imaginable. For solar shading, architectural mesh looks and performs brilliantly. In addition, the mesh promotes airflow unlike traditional shading materials.
Mesh is also a versatile daylighting material which maintains outside views and allows almost any desired amount of natural light through. As a result, Solucent systems optimize the interior environment, and reduce the need for electric light – the number one energy consumer in buildings and a contributor of unwanted heat gain.
Cambridge Architectural, a full-service provider of functional and visually intriguing metal fabric solutions, remains committed to its pledge to promote methods, technologies and products that result in sustainable building projects. Cambridge is an active member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
Architectural mesh was chosen to adorn the facade of the Santa Monica Civic Center parking garage because of its unique look and sustainable attributes. While the style and sophistication of the material contributes to the building’s eye-catching design, it also contributes to the building’s LEED requirements. Mesh and its corresponding attachment hardware are readily recyclable and manufactured from recycled materials. The architect of the Santa Monica Civic Center project specifically chose metal fabric for this reason. Cambridge’s mesh contributed to the structure’s LEED certification.
The architect also chose Cambridge mesh because it is made of stainless steel, which is not affected by coastal weather conditions. Stainless steel mesh, when maintained properly, is resistant to common corrosion issues apparent with coastal applications, making it a perfect material for a location close to the ocean. It also requires minimal maintenance and cleaning after installation, with its life cycle far outlasting that of alternative products. Even the manufacturing process for architectural mesh applications, a cold forming process, creates a lower environmental impact than the process for heat treated products.
With metal fabric products available in a variety of weaves, scales and finishes for interior and exterior use, Cambridge Architectural is always ready to help provide design options for a wide variety of environmentally friendly building projects. Cambridge continues to develop and promote architectural mesh applications that will meet the most current LEED requirements, specifically in the New Construction (NC) category. Because many credit categories require integration with other products, Cambridge also provides consultation and direction on a project-by-project basis to maximize LEED-NC credits. |
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04. Green Walls |
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greenscreen® Modular Trellis Panels
The building block of this modular system is a rigid, light weight, three-dimensional panel constructed from galvanized steel wire that supports plants with both a face grid and a panel depth. This system is designed to hold a green wall façade off the wall surface so that plant materials do not attach to the building, helping to maintain the integrity of a building membrane. Panels can be stacked and joined to cover large areas, or formed to create shapes and curves, are made from recycled-content steel and are recyclable. Because the panels are rigid, they can span between structure and can be used for freestanding green walls. After panels have been sized and trimmed, they are closed-system washed, receive a baked on epoxy primer and final powder coat for durability.
Vines used for green walls are an excellent solution for contributing to urban reforestation. Vines can help shade a building's surface during warm seasons, indigenous vines can be used to reestablish habitat, and vines have been shown to filter some harsh materials from our air.
The Urban Heat Island Effect cause has been identified as the area accumulation of absorbed energy from the sun by materials used to construct our cities. An important benefit of green walls is providing shade for a building or pavement surface thus reducing the absorbed energy. Buildings with lowered surface temperatures can also have reduced cooling demands during warm months. Using freestanding green walls in a pedestrian zone can help create a comfortable microclimate by shading the area from the accumulation of radiant heat while also benefiting from the plant's evapotranspiration. It has been shown that the surface temperatures of vegetation are always slightly below the ambient air temperatures, typically 4-12 degrees, and sometimes considerably cooler.
The elements are simple...the possibilities are endless! |
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05. Green Roofs |
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Roofmeadow® Assemblies
Roofscapes, Inc. has long recognized that all green roofs can be characterized as one of five different Types, loosely ranging from thin, extensive designs to intensive plazas. To satisfy the diverse American market, Roofscapes, Inc. has designed Roofmeadow® assemblies of each Type. Each Roofmeadow® assembly can be modified to satisfy the most challenging architectural and engineering requirements and to provide specific benefits. For example, the thin, low-cost, lightweight RoofRug™ was developed primarily for “big box” type applications in which budget and load restrictions drive the green roof planning. Our Ultralite Plaza, a lightweight mix of lush landscapes and paving is ideal for retrofit applications demanding a stunning, green roof-top amenity space. Alternatively, the Oaklyn Branch Library (Evansville, IN), a Type IV Roofmeadow® Meadow I assembly, exhibits a 14-inch deep wet-mesic prairie meadow. The innovative “roof riffle” design facilitates the base trickle irrigation system, closely approximating natural conditions associated with shallow soil over shale bedrock.
Vegetation Blankets
Sempergreen® vegetation blankets are easy to put into place and the colourful green impact is instant. Nearly all types of roofs are suitable because of the minimal load required to succeed with the Sempergreen® blankets system. Roof tiles? Once you’ve replaced these with some type of roof covering, nothing stops your from creating a green roof.
With Sempergreen® vegetation blankets you immediately see an instant and mature green roof with little or no maintenance. A green roof with Sempergreen vegetation blankets has tremendous stormwater advantages with rain water retention of around 50-80% (depending on regional differences) and provides substantial energy saving.
The Sempergreen® vegetation blankets consist of a coconut fibre blanket, a layer of Sempergreen® substrate and various sedum species. The growth and development of the plants creates an integrated blanket.
The vegetation blankets are delivered as a roll. The standard size is approximately 4 feet wide and 6 feet long (47.3 x 77.8 or 1.20 meters wide and 2.00 meters long), but rolls of up to 60 feet (20 metres) are also available. The reinforced Sedum Mix Blanket Type T is also part of our range of vegetation blankets. This is ideal for sloping or vertical applications. |
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06. Solar-Powered Signage |
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Solar-Powered BlinkerSigns®
For over fifty years TAPCO has taken pride in our ability to provide the commercial, municipal and private parking communities with integrated solutions and equipment to meet all of their needs. Over the last few years we have focused primarily on solar products. The ease of installation combined with minimum maintenance and low operating costs is the direction the entire safety industry is going. Our solar-powered BlinkerSigns®, for instance, are an industry first and when placed strategically in and around a parking structure they take safety to an entirely new level.
Efficient Safety
TAPCO can also answer the call for the more unusual of today’s parking demands. This custom built BlinkerSign was installed at Milwaukee International Airport at the rental car exit to alert unfamiliar drivers to a one way thoroughfare. When the rental car driver approaches the exit a motion detector activates a TAPCO Blinker Beam which then triggers the sign. This system utilizes wireless activation and a solar powered sign to eliminate the need for expensive trenching as well as minimum maintenance and zero ongoing operating costs. This patented, solar-powered sign is available only from TAPCO and is part of our ITS systems integration program. Any standard MUTCD signs can be built with LED Blinkers to handle all parking traffic control issues. (Photo: above right)
Energy Conscious Solution
A constant problem in all parking structures is low clearance issues. With this TAPCO designed BlinkerSign clearance tube, the problem can be greatly reduced if not eliminated all together. The BlinkerSign can be triggered many different ways. From simple loop activation to a more sophisticated laser sensor that will only activate when an over height vehicle approaches. TAPCO leads the field with these system integrated and solution based applications. (Photo: above center) |
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Books: Sustainable Design
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Green Homes: New Ideas for Sustainable Living |
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Green Roofs in Sustainable Landscape Design |
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The Vertical Garden: From Nature to the City
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Ready, Set, Green: Eight Weeks to Modern Eco-Living |
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Green roofs |
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Sustainable Facilities |
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Design for Sustainability
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Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature |
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Sustainable Landscape Construction |
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The Green Building Revolution |
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Green Roof: A Case Study
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Design Charrettes for Sustainable Communities |
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XS: Small Structures, Green Architecture |
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Innovation in Sustainable Housing |
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Ecological Design And Building Schools |
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Women in Green
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Sustainable Construction Green Building Design and Delivery |
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Designing the
Sustainable School |
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Environmental
Design of
Urban Buildings |
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Energy Efficient Architecture
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The Designer's Atlas of Sustainability |
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Strategies for Sustainable Architecture |
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High-Performance Building
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Sustainable Design
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Ecodesign: A Manual for Ecological Design |
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Cradle to Cradle
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Design Like You Give a Damn |
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ecoDesign
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Sustainable Housing
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The Green Studio
Handbook |
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The Green House
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Green Building
Materials |
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Ten Shades of Green
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Sustainable
Commercial
Interiors |
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The Philosophy
of Sustainable
Design |
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The HOK
Guidebook to
Sustainable Design |
Library: Sustainable + Innovative Solutions
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