As a followup to a previous post from last year on the new insulated concrete form HUD developments in Waveland, MS, I personally had the opportunity to visit the neighborhoods while we were down in New Orleans for the AIA Expo May 112th – 14th. Thad, our commercial markets manager, and I drove around some of the highly devastated areas in New Orleans and then took an evening trip to Waveland, MS and Bay St. Louis.

Below are some pictures of the Oak Haven homes right after Hurricane Katrina. As you can tell with the amount of wood used in the original homes, everything was molded out and all homes had to be completely demolished – notice the waterline on the second picture.

We chatted with some of the residents in Oak Haven and they were very friendly and it felt good to know they were all aware of the type of wall technology they are lucky enough to have. They noticed right away you can’t hear anything the adjoining neighbors do, since the partition walls are ICF, and all of them recounted their energy bills to be half as much as the old houses- roughly about $90 a month for a 1,200 sq ft unit.

Classic Country Superstar

The video below is a quick overview of the pictures and video shots of the Oak Haven area, with a soundtrack supplied by classic country artist Norman Wade, who was one of the residents of the the homes. He was definitely a spirited man, and even belted a couple tunes for us. I can tell you one thing, sadly they don’t sing country like that anymore. Enjoy!

The annual ICF Builder awards were announced January 18th at the World of Concrete. I, personally, have only been in this industry for a little over two years, with this year being the 3rd for the ICF Builder awards, and each year the projects set the bar for ANY type of construction, not just ICF. This year Reward Wall Systems were represented in a total of 5 finalists, including 3 that won an award for their respective category.

The ICF Builder Award Winners Are…

Reward Wall Systems was represented in 3 award winning projects in the Multi-Family, Custom Home, and Large Commercial divisions, all receiving the first runner up award.

Multi-Family Housing- Oak Haven Development

This is a hurricane Katrina rebuild of 80 low income housing units. With the size, scope and long term impact this project would have in the region, this could (should) have easily have been the top award winner. Read the past blog post on this game changing ICF project.

Residential Housing- Park-Raines Residence

Photography by Robert Harris

This unique modern designed home was built in the middle of urban Chicago in a revitalization of a old/historic neighborhood. Featured geothermal heating ad recycled paper as an exterior facade, this project earned local accolades and is arguably the GREENEST home in Chicago. View past blog post on this sustainable Chicago home for further information.

Large Commercial- Alamosa School District K-5

Two schools were built on the same campus, one for K-2 and the other 3-5. Total square feet totaled over 140,000 for both schools, with were identical in design. With large spanning windows and P/V units on roofs this project was well deserving of the award it received. Read previous post on  high-performance schools.

Congratulations to all building team members involved on the winning projects and to the project teams for the Passive House in the Woods and the Bellaire, TX Residence as well for being finalists.

If your looking to design or build your city or school district a new performance driven education facility, you face a unique set of challenges to incorporate the features needed by the occupants of the building.

Studies have shown energy consumption is the second largest expense item for schools, next to personnel. It remains as one of the few items you can truly control and reduce costs without reducing the quality of education.  One of the most important ways to reduce the energy needs of a building is to address the building envelope.

Insulating Concrete Forms

ICFs create the optimal building envelope for a high-performance school, and can directly reduce the energy demands by up to 40% alone. Couple ICF technology with a properly designed roof and tightly sealed openings and schools have seen savings reaching over 80% compared to a similarly built school.

ICFs Go Beyond Energy Efficiency

Schools and dorms serve a need more than just to educate and to function with reduce costs. They serve communities as a safe haven for children and students. ICFs are the best choice to address any structural needs for high wind zones, seismic zones, and natural disaster areas with the strength to give owners and occupants peace of mind. Also, they provide the proper environment for student  and teachers to succeed.

Indoor Air Quality

These elements have a profound impact on the ability for teachers to each and for students to learn. Insulating concrete forms improve each one of these elements with the high insulation values and the thermal mass benefits of using concrete.

• Acoustics– Learning is directly affected by acoustical quality, as concentration levels and the ability to hear can be negatively effected by modest background noises. ICFs add to the enhanced acoustical qualities of the learning environment, with high STC ratings.
• Temperature & Humidity– Changes in the temperature negatively effects a student’s ability to perform basic mental tasks, especially memory, as well as effects the overall comfort level of the building occupants. ICFs create a tight, building envelope that can allow complete control of the interior environment.
• School Funding linked to attendance– If a school is susceptible to inadequate IAQ, high absenteeism can occur which not only costs the school millions with absent teachers, it also increases student absences, adversely reflecting future funding for the school.

The research is there on how the indoor environmental effects attendance, test scores, concentration levels, and public funding for  schools. This is why schools built with insulated concrete forms have SURGED to record levels in the recent years, even during a national recession. The benefits are blatantly apparent when it comes to children and students from k-12 through higher education– there have recently been numerous large-scale K-12 & higher education schools using Reward ICFs completed in the last few months, and there are currently a dozen more in construction or slated to start in the next year to prove it.

Finally school districts across the country are holding their public and private schools to a high level of accountability when it comes to cost reductions, maintenance control, safer buildings, and environmental stewardship. The question isn’t ARE you building or designing a school with ICFs now…its more of a when.

i

Just wanted to give you a quick reminder of the what Waveland/Gulfport, MS area looked like 5 years ago after Hurricane Katrina swept through. With locals fighting through the mismanagement of the disaster and the loss of their homes and families, Mississippi residents are seeing some signs of growth and improvement in the rebuilding effort along the coast.

Rebuilding an Affordable Apartment Community

The Flagship United Community Development Corporation (FUCDC), Bay Waveland Housing Authority, and Centerpointe Regional Housing Development Corporation were pleased to witness the official Grand opening of the 80 unit Oak Haven Apartments.

80 total units comprising of 4-plexes, duplexes plus a community center serving as the main office and has a resident accessible computer room, open foyer for gatherings and a full service kitchen. All homes were designed with a coastal theme cottage type appearance and received colorful treatments to the siding with alternating pastel colors to give a fresh, bright, and safe looking neighborhood appearance.

The community will provide a safe, accessible environment with various social and recreational programs. Preventative health care programs, transportation to nearby facilities and dining space will also be available to the residents. Of the 80 units, 41 will replace lost public housing and 39 will be available for rent to individuals who have incomes up to 50 percent of the area median income.

Site Considerations for ICF Construction

FEMA’s newly updated Flood Stage Elevation requirements for the top soil was something the General Contractor (WG Yates) had to take into consideration. This is was updated as a direct response to the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. The construction crews had to bring in over 100,000 cu. yards of dirt in order to get to the new FEMA standards for the top soil. Plus, there were 13 building that needed wood piles to assure stable ground work for homes to be built on.

The ICF Installer, Millennium Walls, was able to come in after all the prep work and play their roll in the “assembly line of construction.” All processes of constructing the homes were staged in groups, so once one trade is done another can move in, and the first trade can start on a new set. Essentially the whole process was standardized- a tactic that attributed in saving over 3 months of construction.

Why Insulated Concrete Forms? Why Reward ICFs?

ICF were chosen mainly for their sheer strength against winds, as energy efficiency was NOT the top requirement, but a superb bonus in this case! The architect was able to save the group tens of thousands on insurance premiums by building concrete homes with ICFs. Plus, with the houses being use for a low income based neighborhood, it was important to create homes that have minimal operating costs.

Joel with W.G. Yates had the duty of selecting the type of insulting concrete form brand as well. The two items that stood out about Reward, other than our ability to assist on the job site at the beginning, was our high performing corner form as well as our forms have ties placed 6 inches on center, adding more strength per foam panel than blocks with ties spaced farther apart.

Joel also noted he loved using the ICFs for  these duplexes and 4-plexes because of the strength to support the trusses spanning from exterior side to exterior side for the roof. Typical construction would have needed more support for the roof. This in turn made it so they did not have to use additional supports to attach the deck to the roof- saving money on reduced material and time.

ICF Apartments Receives Recovery Aid

Local media has been big on the project since its was rebuilding a Hurricane Katrina area. They received grants from regional banks to help finance the project including a $500,000 grant from FHLbank in Dallas made to the The Flagship United Community Development Corporation (FUCDC). FUCDC was established after Hurricane Katrina to focus on areas substantially damaged by hurricanes. The FUCDC is fully operated by the Bay-Waveland Housing Authority.

“The Bay-Waveland Housing Authority suffered total loss with Hurricane Katrina, displacing over 700 children, adults and senior citizens dependent on quality affordable housing,” said Art Schuldt of the Bay-Waveland Housing Authority.

“The Oak Haven development is the first of a phased rebuilding effort incorporating green techniques with structural building components capable of withstanding a major Category 5 storm, all within the context of Gulf coast architectural design. Oak Haven is more than bricks and mortar, it is a holistic program of providing support and self-sufficiency for those in need.  In redeveloping public housing, costs are extremely high. Having the AHP grant as part of our multi-leveraged project was what we really needed to close the gap.”

Project received $7 million in disaster recovery program funds through the Mississippi Development Authority and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Do you need to see more reasons why ICFs create the optimal building enclosure? Comment below!

Carleton College is up for the 2010 annual Greensite awards in the Institutional category. We have blogged numerous times on this project, its sustainable properties and the efforts of the college to to receive a LEED Gold certification. So along with an ICFA, ICF Builder, and Minnesota ARM award, this project wants YOUR votes so we can add to its trophy case!

(Catch up on this ICF dormitory)

To read about the Greensite awards and to view Carleton College entry go to the official Greensite page.

g

To skip reading over everything, and just trust us that this is the best project of the bunch just go ahead…

VOTE for Carleton College

h

Life-cycle costs and more efficient heating/cooling costs to maintain the Special Olympics Yawkey Sports Training Facility were a result of Columbia Construction providing value engineering- essentially by making the decision to deviate from original CMU plans and use insulating concrete forms they were able to improve the function of the building with an opportunity to lower costs.

Energy conservation and being able to build during the winter months were initially the main reasons for using Insulating Concrete Forms. Significant savings were realized due to the fact the project did not suffer any winter conditions penalties. The added benefits of strength and safety were greatly appreciated as well, due to the nature of the users of the building.

The principal architect, since discovering the ICFs, is now specifying it for several new national drug facilities he has underway. His reasons for using this product are:

• Energy conservation and the LEED benefits associated with this product, which increases the R-value to R-32.

• Constructability: utilizing ICFs allows construction during winter months and decreases the cost of winter conditions.

• Labor: utilizing ICFs allows for one trade to construct from the frame footing to the top of the parapet wall. That fact also saves up to two (2) months of overall construction, which for a retail client, is a major benefit.

This isn’t just a facility, it’s a facility for a cause, that everyone was happy to be apart of. It was able to be built with safety in mind, and will reap the benefits of energy efficiency, for all users of the site. The SOMA Yawkey Sports Training Facility will serve as a baseline and as inspirations for ICF growth in the Northeast. This project brought a new architect on board, in a region that will benefit immensely from ICFs and a community program that will enjoy the building for generations to come.

Yawkey Sports Training Facility

Columbia Construction Company served as Construction Manager for a new state-of-the-art headquarters, the Yawkey Sports Training Center, for the Special Olympics of Massachusetts (SOMA). Centrally located in Marlborough, MA, the new 20,000 s.f. training facility and athletic fields is located on a five-acre site. This new building houses their executive offices, along with all of their support facilities. In addition, there is 4,000 s.f. of flexible classroom space that will provide a suitable venue for fundraising and banquet functions. The new SOMA headquarters facility will enable the organization to better serve the more than 10,000 athletes, in more than 118 athletic competitions in 26 sports. It will also enable SOMA to consolidate disparate and expensive field operations, and provide top-notch and more frequent training for its growing base of volunteers, coaches and athletes.

ICF design

The design includes a processional walkway leading to a plaza containing a “Hall of Fame”, which will introduce visitors to the unique nature of this facility. As they enter the lobby, further images and interactive displays will reinforce the educational aspects of the organization. ICFs were utilized for the training facility and gymnasium to allow the construction to continue during the harsh winter months of New England. Utilizing ICF allowed Columbia to place concrete all winter and also provide the exterior insulation to install EIFS in the spring.

The Gymnasium is located on the North side of the building and was originally designed with CMU. The Reward ICF system offered a structural wall system with high energy efficiency and low heat loss. In fact the ICF was added to the design plans after CMU was already spec’d. It was apparent as soon as the benefits were understood, this was the way to build. Adjustments were made in the plans and by using the expertise of an experienced installer, a successful project was built.

ICFs Save Time and Reduce Labor Costs

The ICF system offered a structural system that allowed Columbia to remove the columns and perimeter beams. By utilizing ICFs they were able to simplify the construction to one trade, reducing materials and scaling back on extra labor to get the building in use faster. The insulating properties of ICFs also help to keep construction schedules on time, as they were able to continue to work and pour concrete when the weather was not ideal – temperatures typically average under 35 degrees in December and January.

More on the Special Olympics Yawkey Sports Training Facility next post.

ICF Construction and Design Team

Owner: Pegasus Group/Carleton College
Architect: LHB
General Contractor: J.E. Dunn Construction
ICF Installer: Northland Concrete and Masonry
ICF Distributor: Cemstone

Some Cool ICF Pictures

The picture above shows a sunny, however frigid day in Minnesota. If you have been up there in the winter months you know it can get pretty serious. But with the dorms needing to be ready for fall semester they worked through the winter in sub freezing temperatures. Many days hit below zero, but luckily ICFs allow for concrete placement and curing with sub freezing temperatures.

This picture below is a meat thermometer(highly sophisticated measurement) stuck in an ICF and the concrete after placement. It shows what the curing temperature is of the concrete…100 degrees. The outside air temperature was under 20 degrees.

Finished Insulating Concrete Form School

Please enjoy the pictures of this awarding winning school.

As the year goes on and hopefully this projects racks up a couple more awards and we’ll post some updates on the continual energy use and any more ambitions from that campus.

ICF Project Statistics

• Location: Northfield, Minn.
• Type: MultiFamily—Two Student Residence Halls
• Size: 91,536 sq. ft. (floor) 52,150 + 39,376
• ICF Use: 63,840 sq. ft. (walls)
• Height: 4 stories plus gables
• Cost: $26 million (budgeted)

Live Energy Use Data

One of the unique features of the project is that there are energy use monitors installed in the Residence Halls. This allows the school to track energy use per building, per floor, and for each individual dorm rooms as well. They can identify energy hogs, and maybe advise heavy energy offenders how to cut energy use as well. This is a huge advantage when educating responsible behaviors to students and getting them thinking about the cost of energy.

Along with energy use monitors, they also have the ability to track the energy creation through photo-voltaics and steam generation as well. Those systems were put in place to help heat the water and to offset energy use. Carleton understood the importance of securing the building envelope so it made sense to add P/V systems.

Energy creation is good…and seems to be the only thing to get the government’s attention…but won’t be a feasible source (cost wise) if buildings don’t start limiting their energy consumption. ICFs can limit a building’s energy use! See their live energy use data.

Beyond the Insulating Concrete Form

Carleton College has identified over 36 distinct green attributes to these buildings, other than the use of ICFs and fly ash in the concrete. From reflective roof tiles, to using local vegetation for landscaping, this college is on the leading edge of sustainability.

As you can see there are wonderful things going on in the ICF world up in Minnesota. Next week we’ll go over the star contributors to this project and show some great cold weather concreting pictures.

This was one of our favorite projects for 2009. There were so many features to these buildings and Carleton College truly showed their commitment to a sustainable campus. In the next few posts I will attempt to give our due diligence to this project, show you different construction phases and the finished project as well. Carleton College Residence Halls also won an ICF Builder Award, which was announced at World of Concrete 2010.

Building Energy Modeling Analysis

A building energy modeling analysis (from The Weidt Group) was completed during design, and it was determined that total energy consumption would decrease a minimum of 28% compared to a standard baseline building performance. Carleton did not install ANY A/C as well due to the tight thermal envelope created by ICFs. I asked Maureen Ness, AIA, LEED AP, CDT, with LHB to explain how the modeling worked:

“It basically shows that by spending $54,941 more than a typical building on specific energy-saving strategies, the annual energy savings will be $29,476. There are a lot of factors in the modeling and one of them that we’ve seen on non-air conditioned housing projects is that you don’t really get credit for not air-conditioning, even though that is a lot of savings over a conventional building.”

The total payback, of the additional costs, of making these ICF Dormitories energy efficient is 1.5 years!

(Do you want an energy analysis done on your current home being designed? We are offering a free energy analysis to show you the dramatic savings you can get with ICFs.)

Sustainable features of Carleton College

Overall, Carleton College has identified over 36 distinct aspects to these building that are considered sustainable features. From low flush toilets that will save 30% on water, to copper tiles on southern facing roofs to deflect heat gain, LED lighting, as well as natural foliage planted around campus that is sturdy and weather resistant. All of these features are contributing to their LEED Gold certification.

Next week, we will show you all the live energy data from the school as well as some more highlights of this project. In the meantime check out the rest of our highlighted ICF projects or our ICF gallery section on rewardwalls.com.