Leading Edge Sustainable Stadium Design to highlight remarks from expert panelists

As both sustainability and efficiency advance in the built environment, architects, specifiers, and buyers alike increasingly select products that are both environmentally friendly and can achieve project performance and client welfare goals. When it comes to sustainable arena design, another factor must be considered: fan experience.

On January 8, an expert panel will be assembled at Gillette Stadium to discuss sustainable design considerations with a focus on sports arenas. A subset of the talk will focus on how green technology can contribute to cost-savings and the overall fan experience. Speakers include Scott Jenkins, general manager of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Chris DeVolder, managing principal of HOK, Summer Minchew, managing partner of Ecoimpact Consulting and Jim Nolan, chief operating officer of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium.

“Excel Dryer is a long-time partner of the New England Patriots. Our XLERATOR Hand Dryers have helped the Superbowl champions save 95 percent versus paper towel costs, maintenance and waste while reducing the carbon footprint by 70 percent,” said William Gagnon, vice president marketing and sales at Excel Dryer.

Now, in this new age of transparency, the stadium is going even greener—with the help of Excel Dryer and D|13 Group. Gagnon furthered, “This year, integrated sink systems from D|13 Group and featuring XLERATORsync Hand Dryers have been installed on the premises, and are a hygienic, sustainable and cost-effective way to wash and dry hands.”

Attendees of the event will include architects and designers who will surely glean valuable information that can be applied to their own designs and put into practice. Former Patriots players and the team mascot, Pat the Patriot, will be also on hand to round out what is sure to be a well-attended—and memorable—event.

Bossier City, La. - The roof re-cover at Roma High School in Roma, Texas, was a long time coming. Leaks at various transition points were causing excessive damage. Ultimately, the school district decided to invest in a major renovation, which ended up including new metal roofing, new low slope roofing, repairs to masonry and metal walls, as well as the replacement of windows and skylights.

The biggest fix ended up being the original roofing, which required 233,335 square feet of McElroy Metal’s symmetrical standing seam metal roofing in PVDF Brite Red. A leaky tile roof was removed and replaced with McElroy’s 138T symmetrical standing seam metal roofing. Additionally, the company’s 238T symmetrical standing seam metal roofing was used to re-cover an existing R-panel.

According to a report put together by the school district, the water infiltration issues were considerably worse than anyone realized. Most of the leaks were associated with walls and transitions between roofing and walls as well as the foundation and the walls.

To ensure history did not repeat itself, Amtech Solutions of Pharr, Texas, investigated thoroughly and recommended the best solutions, including designed leak-proof “saddles” where the roof and walls met.

“When we got involved, they were unsure of what the real causes of all the problems were,” says Mike Hovar, AIA, RRO, LEED AP, of Amtech Solutions. “When you see water running down the wall, immediately you think the problems were only with the roofing. Once we got a closer look, it wasn’t just the roof, but the walls, the drainage over the walls. No one had any idea how bad it was.”

Amtech is a full-service design and restoration consulting firm, offering architectural, engineering and building envelope expertise. Hovar says from the start, there was a contingent that wanted to go with the tile roof again to maintain the original design intent, but another group simply wanted a solution that would eliminate any repeating problems moving forward.

“Both systems would be appropriate, installed correctly,” Hovar says. “We talked about the advantages of metal as opposed to tile, how it would be easier to get a properly functioning roof and that it would be less expensive. It’s safe to say we helped steer them in that direction.”

Rio Roofing of Harlingen, Texas, roll formed the panels onsite, as they were needed for installation.

“We brought the roll former out on weekends to run panels because it draws a crowd,” says Hedley Hichens, vice president at Rio Roofing. “Obviously with a school there are fewer people around on weekends.

“We also purchased a SnapTable Pro from Swenson Shear to cut panels we installed in the valleys and to notch the panels. We easily got our money’s worth out of that thing on this job alone.”

Hichens says the school board and community were very excited about the project because problems have aggravated the district for the more than 25 years the school existed. The school held an actual “groundbreaking ceremony,” with catered food for guests and a band for entertainment.

“Because there were a lot of issues to deal with, it really was committing to one detail at a time,” Hichens says. “Amtech designed the details, everything; some things change when you get in the field, but they did a great job of making sure everything was going to work the way it was supposed to.”

In other words, no leaks in the many valleys and the transitions between sections and walls. Among the details designed by Amtech included an aluminum saddle from the low eave; an aluminum saddle from the high eave; and an aluminum saddle from the gable/façade.

Hichens says the 238T symmetrical panels work well with all the details and he likes the way they look when completed. “In the past, we had done a lot of work with 1-1/2-inch mechanical lock and 2-inch double-seamed panels,” he says. “With the 238T, you don’t have to worry about the seamer jumping off; it finishes beautifully.

“We’re in a windstorm area, so the uplift performance sold us on the 238T.”

Amtech specifies 138T and 238T for a lot of large-scale roof recovers.

“Let me count all the ways we prefer to use the 138T and 238T panels,” Hovar says. “First, it’s the easiest panel to design and install complex or simple flashing details, which was a big deal on this job. Second, because the panels are symmetrical, we can start installing panels anywhere on the roof.

“The panels handle better when they’re being carried, they don’t fold over on themselves like other profiles can. Seaming goes faster because you can seam the cap going in either direction. Also, you can replace damaged panels without removing any panels that are not damaged. And flashing with curbs is a dream!”

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LEWISVILLE, Texas – Insulated metal panels were specified to provide a more modern look to the two-story Middlesex Turnpike office building in Bedford, Mass. The owner wanted to escort the facility, erected in the 1970s, into the 21st century.

Metl-Span provided approximately 16,000 square feet of 3-inch CF Architectural insulated metal panels in 24-inch and 36-inch widths. The IMPs, with a 22-gauge exterior skin and a 26-gaute interior skin, were installed over the existing split-face masonry wall using a custom clip, and to metal studs.

“The original building was constructed in two phases,” says Michael Frechette, AIA, of Dacon in Natick, Mass, noting the casual observer could notice the differences in the construction phases. “Insulated metal panels allowed us to pull it all together and provide the updated aesthetic the owner was seeking in an energy-saving system.”

Horizontal IMPs were installed in widths consistent with windows and other design elements of the building. Frechette says the Middlesex Turnpike office building now boasts a clean, consistent look, all around the building.

“The original façade was ripped off and we installed the insulated metal panels,” says Dave McGrath, sales engineer for Controlled Environment Structures (CES) of Mansfield, Mass. “Most of the work we do is from-the-ground-up new construction, because that’s the work that’s out there. We do our share of renovations. On this project, we installed insulated metal panels to metal studs and to the masonry.

“It’s a lot more difficult to do a horizontal renovation than a new vertical installation. We had to line up our seams with the mullions on the storefront windows. There is a lot of custom field work because we weren’t working off a blueprint; these are field conditions.”

“It was a dramatic transformation,” says Frechette. “The original CMU (concrete masonry unit) was a very rough surface, but CES came up with a clever solution to attach the insulated metal panels to a sub-framing system. Now, you’d never know there was basically a concrete block building under there.”

McGrath says CES developed a clip to attach the IMPs to the masonry. Another challenge was working with panels that have a smooth finish. “The quality of manufacturing has to be right on with smooth panels or it can become problematic,” McGrath says. “Every imperfection shows up; you can’t hide sins in a smooth panel, but the Metl-Span panels were perfect.”

McGrath says the owner is extremely happy with the finished project and the building at Middlesex Turnpike is attracting some attention. “They light it up with LED lights at night and it looks great,” he says.

LEWISVILLE, Texas – Metl-Span, a manufacturer of durable and energy-efficient insulated metal panels, has developed an online video library that includes several installation instructional videos as well as videos featuring specifiers discussing their success stories with Metl-Span products.

“We’ve put together three installation videos to help contractors and installers get it right the first time,” says Paul Collyer, Vice President of Business Development at Metl-Span. “The videos are on our website, so they can be accessed in the office or in the field.”

The installation videos cover Commercial-Industrial Roof Installation, Roof Installation and Commercial-Industrial Wall Installation.

The library also includes testimonial videos featuring customers who have completed successful projects with insulated metal panels from Metl-Span. There are also videos explaining the benefits of using insulated metal panels.

Bossier City, La. — McElroy Metal has developed three blogs to help educate contractors, consumers and homeowners on the benefits and frequently asked questions regarding metal roofing and wall products.

McElroy Metal’s Commercial Building blog features some of the many successful commercial projects completed with the company’s products.

McElroy Metal’s Homeowner blog speaks to anyone looking for design inspiration and information about installing metal roofing on their home. It also offers information about the benefits of metal roofing.

McElroy Metal’s News blog showcases the company’s new products as well as projects featuring McElroy products, including several award-winning projects.

“Our goal is to help our customers and consumers learn about metal roofing and walls,” says Ken Gieseke, Vice President of Marketing at McElroy Metal. “The three blogs contain information useful to contractors, consumers and homeowners, information that helps promote the use of metal roofing and walls and explains the benefits to consumers.”

MRIL CEO Recognized by CSI as Outstanding Technical Writer

Colorado Springs – Metal Roof Innovations Limited (MRIL) announces Rob Haddock as the 2018 recipient of the Ben John Small Technical Writing Award. Construction Specifier’s Institute (CSI) awards this honor to those “recognized by their peers as an outstanding technical writer and/or expert in their field.”

CSI recognizes Rob Haddock for technical expertise in innovation and technical writing in the roofing industry. Specifically notable is his series, Metal Roofing from A (Aluminum) to Z (Zinc). CSI also wishes to acknowledge Rob for sharing his passion for metal roofing through technical articles and through one hundred plus presentations.

CSI strives to improve construction specification best practices. The award is named after Ben John Small – founder and former president of the Metropolitan New York Chapter of CSI. Small chaired the Chapter’s Technical Committee.

Rob Haddock is no stranger to metal construction. With now 47 years in the industry, his unwavering confidence in metal roof superiority, built S-5!’s strong foundation. His attachment solutions make metal the most user-friendly roof type on the market, maintaining S-5!’s dominance as the industry leader in that field.

Frequently requested by trade groups for speaking and educational engagements across the country, Rob also serves as Director of the Metal Roof Advisory Group, Ltd. and consults on roofing solutions and services worldwide. He is an inaugural member of the Metal Construction Hall of Fame, a recipient of the Carl Cash Award from ASTM (for technical writing), and winner of the Pat Bush award from Metal Construction Association for unselfish contributions to the industry. He also holds lifetime honorary memberships to the MBCEA and the MCA.