Kawneer Products Helps Build a New State-of-the-Art, Energy Efficient
Intermediate School in Hot Springs, Arkansas
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.--(Business Wire)--
The Hot Springs Intermediate School, located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, may
appear to be an everyday, two-story school. But in taking a closer look at the
aluminum, glass and brick building it is apparent that there is much more to the
building than meets the eye.
Sustainability was a key factor in creating the new school. It was important
that the Intermediate School incorporate solutions that help provide a healthy,
productive learning environment, such as increased daylighting and improved
energy efficiency. To help achieve natural lighting, products from Alcoa`s
Kawneer architectural aluminum products business were selected to help increase
the durability, sustainability and energy efficiency of the school. The new
school, now occupied by approximately 700 students, is spacious and features an
open floor plan with natural light throughout.
Challenges for Kawneer
* The School District had strict energy requirements; therefore energy
efficiency was essential to the project.
* Many of the classrooms in the new school faced west, which was not ideal for
energy efficiency or daylighting.
* To fit the needs of a growing student body, the new facility needed to be
durable and able to handle heavy traffic.
Kawneer Solutions
* To meet the energy and lighting needs of the school while keeping within the
project`s budget and design guidelines, a combination of Kawneer`s 1600 SunShade
and custom sunshades were used to help control glare and maximize natural light
during the school day.
* For additional thermal and performance options, Kawneer`s versatile Trifab VG
451T Storefront Framing was selected. The building also incorporates a
geo-thermal heating system and an insulated building envelope. Additionally,
extra insulation was integrated into the roof to exceed the energy code.
Entrance vestibules also featured sloped glazing to allow for increased natural
light to enter the building.
* For durability, Kawneer 350 Medium Stile Entrances were used. This entrance
package, composed of a door, door frame and hardware, is designed specifically
for high traffic areas such as school entrances, and makes a good, aesthetic
impression, while simultaneously withstanding the rigors of constant use. To
provide heightened security, Kawneer`s Paneline Exit Devices, which offer total
access control, were installed on the entrances to the facility.
Other Design Highlights
The site that the school district selected for the new facility was adjacent to
the old building and fairly small in size. To compensate for the small building
site, local architectural firm Douglas A. Arnold and Associates was required to
go from a one-story design to a two-story plan. A greenhouse, incorporated into
the design as a part of its science curriculum, features a skylight that
provides smooth appearance and helps minimize heat loss and condensation. The
combination of the building`s green features and modern teaching facilities,
which includes a separate physical education building and auditorium, as well as
an elaborate arts wing, helped make Hot Springs Intermediate School
state-of-the-art.
About Kawneer
With more than 100 years of innovation and experience, Kawneer North America is
headquartered in Norcross, GA, and is the leading manufacturer of architectural
aluminum products and systems for the commercial construction industry. Kawneer
is part of Alcoa`s global Building and Construction Systems (BCS) business unit.
Alcoa BCS manufactures and markets architectural systems and products in North
America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Alcoa is the world`s leading producer
and manager of primary aluminum, and alumina facilities, and is active in all
major aspects of the industry. For more information on Kawneer or its products,
please visit www.kawneer.com.
About Alcoa
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world leader in the production and management of primary
aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina combined, through its active and
growing participation in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the
aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial
transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production
and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to
aluminum products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy
extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also markets Alcoa wheels, fastening systems,
precision and investment castings, and building systems. The Company has been
named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World
Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and has been a member of the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index for eight consecutive years. Alcoa employs approximately
63,000 people in 31 countries across the world. More information can be found at
www.alcoa.com.
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Alcoa Inc.
Joyce A. Saltzman, 412-553-4467
Copyright Business Wire 2009
