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| Sustainable support of two CertainTeed Gypsum products  The walls of Asa Flats + Lofts, a uniquely designed, new mixed-use residential and retail development in Portland, Ore., will have the sustainable support of two CertainTeed Gypsum products when it opens later this year. Designed by Seattle architectural firm GGLO, LLC, the style of Asa Flats + Lofts has been described as industrial urban, with such architectural features as exposed concrete and ductwork, open floor plans, and a focus on sustainable design. Using sustainable design practices and following the guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program is vital for any new construction project in Portland, a city known for having an environmentally friendly climate. Asa Flats + Lofts is a candidate for LEED Gold status.One of the best ways to build sustainably and achieve LEED certification is to select building products with green attributes. For the building's exterior sheathing and interior walls, GGLO selected CertainTeed GlasRoc Sheathing and ProRoc Moisture and Mold Resistant Gypsum Board with M2Tech, respectively. The products were recommended by the project's interior contractor Performance Contracting, Inc., a company based in Lenexa, Kans., with an office in Portland. Featuring patented Embedded Glass Reinforced Gypsum (EGRG ) technology, GlasRoc Sheathing provides long-term protection from weather exposure, which is important during the construction phase of a building. The unique EGRG technology combines a paperless gypsum surface with reinforcing glass mats that are fully embedded into a water-resistant gypsum core, creating a naturally moisture- and mold-resistant product. ProRoc Moisture and Mold Resistant Gypsum Board with M2Tech is designed for use on interior walls and ceilings and features a water-resistant core and a moisture- and mold-resistant paper facing. In addition to the green attributes of GlasRoc and ProRoc with M2Tech, Performance Contracting received excellent on-site tech support from CertainTeed Gypsum and had a positive experience working with the products. Using GlasRoc in custom 4-foot x 9-foot panels, the contractor was able to install the sheathing vertically to accommodate the building's 9-foot ceiling heights, without wasting material. "There probably would have been 25 to 30 percent more jobsite waste if we didn't have the 4-by 9 sheets," says Brian Sherette, Senior Project Manager for Performance Contracting. "Also, when cutting the GlasRoc sheathing, we are able to score, snap and back cut with typical drywall tools instead of skill saws and hole saws. The ProRoc board, too, snaps clean, and its recesses aren't too hard or too soft. It's also very consistent in size." ProRoc gypsum products offer fire and moisture resistance and thermal and acoustic insulation solutions that contribute to the comfort and aesthetics of spaces. All of the face and back paper used in the ProRoc gypsum board line of products is made from pre- and post-consumer recycled paper, with a recycled content of up to 96 percent, which can contribute to LEED credits for use in green building design projects. Compatible with most exterior wall systems and applications, GlasRoc is the only ASTM C 1177 sheathing evaluated to the 2006 International Building Code and International Residential Code as referenced in the International Code Council's (ICC) ESR-2460 report. Asa Flats + Lofts, named after Portland founding father Asa Lovejoy, mixes residential with retail use in 16 levels, featuring 231 apartments and lofts, nine penthouses and 20,000 square feet of retail space on the ground level. Performance Contracting is expected to finish its work in September, and Asa Flats + Lofts is scheduled to open in November. The complete project, known as "The Lovejoy Block, " also includes an adjacent nine-story building designed by Portland's LRS Architects. The building will feature a two-story grocery store at the ground level, four levels of parking and three levels of office space. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Construction News :: home page |