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LEWISVILLE, Texas – Spanning 39 stories and more than 500,000 total square feet, the new West Edge Tower in downtown Seattle has already become an iconic architectural feature in the city’s celebrated skyline. The tower relies on a highly efficient mix of cladding materials, including curtain wall, glass, masonry and high-performance insulated metal panels by Metl-Span.
Located at 2nd and Pike Street, the luxury high-rise sits squarely between Seattle’s thriving retail and financial cores, a strategic location to attract residents for its more than 300 available units. The mixed-use development was designed to reflect the city’s urban core and the surrounding architecture, while paying tribute to the natural landscape of America’s Northwest. The unique design, labeled “sophisticated casual” by the building owner, takes into account the latest in sustainable innovations while providing high-end amenities to its clients, including a premium gym, a Sky Bar restaurant and unobstructed water and city views from resident balconies.
For residents, access to nature and open space starts on the ground floor with a seven-story atrium occupied by a live Tsuma Gaki maple tree. On the building’s exterior, the inspired use of curtain wall and glass provides a shifting reflection of the sky. The use of insulated metal panels also served as a key design element, according to installer McKinstry Co., LLC.
“The multi-colored, metal exterior was a feature created by the design team to make the wall look as though it faded into the air,” explained Project Manager Peter Avratin with McKinstry.
Olson Kundig Architects specified more than 38,000 square feet of vertical Metl-Span CF Architectural insulated metal panels in 13 different hues, ranging from dark Obsidian to luminous Off White with multiple shades of gray in between.
CF Architectural panels offer a smooth, flat profile that is ideally suited for designers seeking a monolithic architectural façade without sacrificing thermal and moisture performance. The flush panels have become a mainstay in several high-end architectural markets including the multi-residential and hospitality industries.
Metl-Span CF Architectural insulated metal panels provide exceptional thermal performance in the form of polyurethane foam insulation. The designers at Olson Kundig Architects specified the insulated metal panel system in a 2-inch thickness, delivering an R-value of 14.95. CF Architectural panels are available in thicknesses up to 4 inches to tailor thermal performance to meet even the most demanding building requirements.
Insulated metal panels provide thermal efficiency and all-weather control in a single component. The highly efficient insulation contributes to West Edge Tower’s top-notch energy efficiency by reducing HVAC costs. The system delivers an added advantage by minimizing installation time and effort.
With reservations starting as early as January, West Edge Tower opened the doors to potential clients in March 2018. The project is slated for LEED® Gold certification, exceeding Seattle’s high standards for sustainable construction.
Marmomac 2018: natural stone in the forefront of urban redevelopment of cities of the future
Natural stone must become the key for sustainable urban development and urban re-development. This is what emerged yesterday at Veronafiere during the inauguration of the 53rd edition of Marmomac - the world's leading marble and technology sector event scheduled until Saturday 29 September - in the presence of the President and CEO of Veronafiere, Maurizio Danese and Giovanni Mantovani, the President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, the Mayor of Verona, Federico Sboarina, the President of Confindustria Marmormacchine, Marco De Angelis, the Councillor for Urban Planning of Verona City Council, Ilaria Segala, and Marco dell'Agli, senior architect of the Mario Cucinella studio.
"Stone is a very ancient material," said President Danese, "that today is experiencing a new renaissance that Marmomac itself also interprets by simultaneously promoting two directions of development in the sector: design and technology." Natural stone and technology brands in Italian marble districts boast 3,300 companies throughout the country with more than 34,000 employees. Turnover comes to 4.2 billion euro, with a balance of trade in the black by 2.8 billion euro. "Marmomac is a fundamental Italian manufacturing sector," said CEO Mantovani, "yet one that is often relegated to a marginal role compared to other fields. In reality, facts and figures prove the exact opposite. Marmomac has the merit of having revolutionised the once residual or luxury use of natural stone into everyday life and urban contexts."
The objective focuses on redevelopment and promotion, as explained by the President of Confindustria Marmomacchine, De Angelis: "We are implementing a new network to bring companies and players in the sector together in a major project to defend and promote natural stone products, which Veronafiere has already joined. The ‘Authentic Natural Stone’ initiative will be officially launched on a national scale next year."
The inaugural round table titled ‘Regenerating abandoned areas: an opportunity for our cities’, during which architect dell'Agli illustrated three urban redevelopment projects in Milan, Aosta and Catania, included reports such as the one by the Governor of the Veneto region, Zaia, who highlighted the pioneering role of the Region as regards law on land consumption, while also announcing that: "The Regional Housing Plan which has already achieved excellent results will be presented again in a reviewed form."
"Sustainability and urban redevelopment are among the objectives of municipal administration," said the Mayor of Verona, Sboarina. Veronafiere is also involved in the recovery of abandoned sites in the local area. The redevelopment of the former fruit and vegetable market is a fine example."
A new product for in-ground hardscape installation
The Silca® Soil Grid X30 is a heavy duty linking grid system that allows you to build stronger hardscapes by stabilizing the base material.
Benefits:
Quick and easy installation also saves you time and labor cost:
The Silca® Soil Grid will be on display at HNA 2018! Stop by our Indoor Booth #21006 or Outdoor Booth #5524-D to see it in action!
