High-Pressure Laminates in Rainscreen Facade
Panel Installation
There are two fundamental choices for securing the HPL panels to the support system. One is to use exposed fasteners through the face of the panels. Commonly, these fasteners can be painted to match the color of the HPL and blend in quite well, particularly when viewed from a bit of distance as most facades are. The fasteners must be spaced properly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations for the product. Every panel needs fixed points and sliding points, including some with oversized holes to accommodate movement. Information on how to position/place these points is provided in technical information from manufacturers.
The second way that HPL panels can be secured in place is to use a concealed fastener system. This creates a cleaner look, particularly when viewed up close, say along a sidewalk or other areas where people will frequent. Concealed systems rely on the addition of horizontal aluminum channels that are designed to receive corresponding inverted channels or clips that are secured onto the back of the HPL panels. These systems commonly include some means of adjustment to level the panels and a means to permanently secure the hanging panels in place.
Regardless of the method of attachment, HPL panels are generally quite accepted by tradesmen because they bring several installation advantages. First, if the design calls for it, the availability of large-size panels reduces installation time and allows for quicker, more economical installations. Second, HPL can be fabricated in a controlled manufacturing site with computer numerical control (CNC) machined accuracy as well as field cut. It is machined and installed using the same conventional carpentry tools as used for hardwood. That means there is very little if any learning curve since experienced carpenters can readily discern how to work with and install the products. Third, the comparative thinness of the product means that renovation projects can benefit from installation over existing materials, thus avoiding the time and cost of demolition and waste disposal.
Of course, just like any manufactured product, HPL panels should always be installed per the manufacturer's recommendations for the specific application in which they are being used. In this way, any warranties can be preserved and the best performance can be assured.
Images courtesy of Trespa North America Ltd.
HPL panels can be installed on aluminum support systems using either an exposed fastener method or concealed fastener system.
CASE STUDY #1
Photos: JohnClemmer.net
Project: Center for Civil and Human Rights
Location: Atlanta
Architect: Phil Freelon, HOK
Fabricator/Installer: Miller Clapperton
System: Visible (exposed) fixing with screws on an aluminum subframe
The Project: Located in Atlanta, the Center for Civil and Human Rights is a mere 2 miles from the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and directly adjacent to the Coca Cola Museum. As a museum that tells the continuing story of the American Civil Rights Movement, it warranted a unique, intriguing design. Architect Phil Freelon headed the culture-rooted project, along with HOK, creating what is now a leading attraction in Atlanta.
The Challenge: Trials and tribulations began back in 2008 during fundraising attempts for the new building. The economic recession put a damper on expected financial support, forcing the architects to rethink their original design. Initially the plan, which included a design modeled after interlocking arms, had to be redesigned and scaled back to nearly half the size.
The Design Solution: The exterior walls mimic a set of interlocking hands while the various neutral-colored HPL panels resemble human flesh tones. The vision behind the shape and color choices was to represent many people of different races coming together in support of a common cause: civil and human rights. The curved design concept continues inside the 43,000-square-foot Center with large, curved rooms, mood lighting, and an intentional color scheme to match each exhibit individually. Visitors cannot help but feel emotion during their visit, from extreme sorrow to uplifting inspiration. The building is designed to provoke specific feelings that parallel with the exhibit’s content. The curved rooms surround visitors with civil and human rights history, and the accompanying sound bites are chilling to listen to while walking through each room. The front facade of the building features floor-to-ceiling windows, providing extraordinary light. A tour through the Center is an emotionally evocative experience.
The Facade Solution: The curved walls of the Center required the architects to brainstorm for engineering solutions that would accommodate the shape. HPL rainscreen facade panels proved to be the solution they needed. In particular, the selected metallic panels feature a directional colored surface, which allow special effects to be created by installing these panels with random orientation. Also, the panels were available in a very large 7-foot x 14-foot maximum sheet size, which helped keep project costs in check. Altogether, the panels’ design flexibility, large sizes, and vast selection of colors made them an ideal exterior cladding choice for this stunning project.
The Results: After years of planning, the Center for Civil and Human Rights opened on June 23, 2014. The three-story building is a work of art and tells the legacy of civil rights around the world. The product flexibility of the HPL panels helped the architect’s team overcome budget obstacles by using only two panel colors but rotating the panels 90 or 180 degrees to offer the illusion of a multitude of colors when exposed to the reflection of sunlight.
Green Building Contributions of HPL Facades
When HPL panels are incorporated into facades, there are a number of contributions that they may be able to make related to green and sustainable building design. Some of these are straightforward to document using LEED v4 criteria due to their inherent properties and characteristics. These include the following.
